Also known as Influenza, the seasonal flu is a highly infectious acute respiratory illness which is caused by the influenza virus. Flu season typically (but not strictly) runs from November to March and can affect people of all ages. It is recommended you should get your ‘flu jab’ during the Autumn months in order to be covered for flu season. 

Symptoms of the flu include fever, temperature, chills/sweats, muscle aches, headache and fatigue. Generally, symptoms peak on day 2 or 3 and you should start feeling better after 5 – 7 days. If you are carrying the virus, you can spread it by sneezing or coughing. This can happen 1-2 days before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after symptoms develop. Although rarely life threatening, there are some groups that are more at risk of developing serious infections such as people over the age of 65, the very young, anyone with a long-term medical condition and those with compromised immune systems.

As with most viruses the variations of the flu virus adapt and change every year. The flu vaccine works by helping your immune system produce antibodies which fight the flu virus. If you are vaccinated and come in to contact with a person who has the virus, the antibodies your body has produced will attack the virus and help prevent infection. The vaccine is available to adults and children at risk of flu and its complications and starts to work within two weeks of receiving it.

The most common side-effects and symptoms will be mild (e.g. fever, aching muscles, headache) which usually last no more than a day or two. Your arm may also be a little sore where you got the injection. Serious side effects of the flu vaccine are very rare. 

While everyone should consider getting the flu vaccine, it is especially important for the following groups should get vaccinated in order to prevent getting complications if they catch flu.

– Persons aged 65 and older
– All pregnant women (vaccine can be received at any stage of pregnancy)
– Healthcare workers
Persons with a chronic illness requiring regular follow up, e.g. chronic respiratory disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma and bronchopulmonary dysplasia), chronic heart disease (including acute coronary syndrome), chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, haemoglobinopathies, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease (including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system)
– Those whose immune system is impaired due to disease or treatment
– All cancer patients
– Patients with any condition that can compromise respiratory function, e.g. spinal cord injury, seizure disorder or other neuromuscular disorder
– Persons with Down syndrome
– Persons with a body mass index (BMI) over 40
– Household contacts of at-risk persons
– Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions
– Carers
– Those likely to transmit influenza to a person at high risk for influenza complications
– People in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl

You should not get the flu vaccine if you:

have had a severe allergic (anaphylaxis) reaction to a previous flu vaccine

are taking medicines called combination checkpoint inhibitors, for example, ipilimumab plus nivolumab

are ill with a temperature greater than 38 degrees Celsius - you should wait until you are well before getting the vaccine

If you have an egg allergy, you should talk to your GP about getting the vaccine

For your convenience, you can now schedule your appointment for your flu vaccine via our online booking system. Simply complete your pre-consultation form and select an appointment date and time that is convenient for you. When you arrive for your appointment in store, your pharmacist can answer any questions you may have before administering your vaccination in the privacy of our consultation room.