Flu (influenza) is an illness that can be serious and can affect your nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. You can catch flu all year round, but it’s especially common in winter, which is why it’s also known as seasonal flu.
Healthy individuals usually recover within two to seven days, but for some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death.
What is the flu vaccination?
The flu vaccination helps the body to produce protective antibodies to fight against the influenza viruses that cause the flu.
Flu vaccinations are safe and work well. The NHS offers them every year to help protect people who might get really sick from the flu.
The best time to get your flu vaccination is in the autumn, before the flu virus starts spreading.
The flu virus changes a little bit every year, so this winter’s flu might be a bit different from last year’s. People need to have the flu vaccination every year to stay protected.
Why should I get the flu vaccination?
Catching flu often means days of bed rest and missing work. Getting the flu vaccination is the best way to help avoid this and to help prevent those around you from catching and spreading the flu virus.
Getting vaccinated is also especially important for certain people who are more likely to have severe symptoms and develop flu complications, like pneumonia and bronchitis. This includes:
How to get the free NHS flu vaccination
If you can have the NHS flu vaccination, your general practice surgery will let you know in autumn or early winter about how you can have your vaccination.
Speak to your general practice surgery if you have not been contacted by the mid October, but you think you are eligible.