Older people urged to prepare for winter by getting the flu jab

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On this year’s National Older People’s day the local NHS provider of health improvement services is urging older people throughout Calderdale to make plans to get their flu vaccination.

National Older People’s Day, Saturday 1 October, runs each year and is an opportunity for older people to find out about issues that affect them such as staying healthy and keeping warm in winter.

This year the Calderdale health improvement service, which is provided by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is urging everybody aged 65 or over to get immunised against flu.

For most people, seasonal flu is unpleasant but not serious and they recover within a week. However, certain people are at greater risk of developing serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

People aged over 65 are one of the identified at-risk groups so it is advised to protect yourself from catching flu and developing serious complications. It is also recommended that you have the jab if you are; pregnant, have a serious medical condition, live in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility, a main carer or a frontline health or social care worker.

Even if you’ve already had a flu jab in previous years, you need another one this year. The flu jab may only protect you for a year because the viruses that cause flu are always changing. This year’s seasonal flu vaccination also includes a vaccine to protect against swine flu (H1N1).

Speaking about the flu jab health improvement specialist Judy Stewart said, "Despite popular belief, the flu vaccine cannot give you flu as it doesn’t contain the active virus needed to do this, but is your best protection against flu. Contact your local GP now and get your flu jab booked in before the winter arrives. The vaccination only takes a minute and is safe, effective and free."

To book yourself in for a flu vaccination contact your local GP. More information about flu is available online at www.nhs.uk

Older people urged to prepare for winter by getting the flu jab

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