Flu and the Annual Vaccination 2020/21 Season

What is Flu?

Flu is an unpredictable virus that infects many people each year, causing severe illness and sometimes death amongst vulnerable groups.   If you are otherwise healthy, symptoms can include fever, aches and pains, headache, sore throat and sickness. Symptoms are similar for children but they can also get ear pain and appear less active.

​For more information about Flu click on this link

 

Who Is At Risk?

  • are​​​ 65 years old or over (also if you're currently 64 but will be 65 on 31 March 2021, you also qualify)
  • children aged 2-3 years old and those between the age of 6 months to under 18 years old that have an applicable health condition putting them at increased risk of complications caused by flu will be invited by their GP to attend for a flu vaccine
  • children aged 4-10 and children in year 7 of secondary school (this cohort will normally be vaccinated at school)
  • are pregnant
  • are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility
  • are a carer
  • have certain medical conditions​ such as:
    • ​chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases
    • chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
    • chronic kidney disease
    • chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
    • chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease or cerebral palsy
    • a learning disability
    • diabetes
    • problems with your spleen, or if you have no spleen
    • a weakened immune systems as a result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines, or chemotherapy
    • having a BMI of 40 or above

image of patient receiving a vaccination

Please note that the list above is not exhaustive. Later in the year the flu vaccine may be given to 50-64 year olds not in an at risk category.  More information will be available towards the end of the year. 

Later in the year the flu vaccine may be given to 50-64 year olds not in an at risk category.  More information will be available towards the end of the year.  

 

If you are aged 50-64 and in an at-risk group you should not delay having your flu vaccine

​For more information about who should have the Flu vaccine click on this link

 

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