7 August 2020

“There has never been a more important time to make sure you, and those you care for, are protected against the flu”

It may be summer but CNWL and the wider NHS is already starting to plan for winter.

Along with seasonal bugs, slips and falls, and the flu, the NHS will also be treating patients with Covid-19 this winter, meaning services are likely to be busier than in previous years.

Maria O’Brien, Chief Nurse at CNWL said:

“There has never been a more important time to make sure you, and those you care for, are protected against the flu. Where vaccines are available, we should use them to help keep everyone safe.

“Around 15 to 20 per cent of the population get the flu each year, including healthy people; we are asking everyone who is at risk of being affected by the flu to get vaccinated. By having the flu vaccination, you will help protect yourself and others from what can be a severe, and sometimes fatal, illness which could lead to hospital treatment.

“Many of the people who are vulnerable to flu are also more vulnerable to Covid-19; we want to help protect those most at risk of flu, but also protect the health of those who are vulnerable to hospitalisation from Covid-19 by ensuring they do not get the flu alongside it.”

Every staff member who works for the Trust is offered a free vaccine to fight flu. The Trust is also calling for staff to sign up to be peer vaccinators to administer the vaccine to staff at their service.

Information for patients and carers

You should have the flu vaccine if you: 

·         are 65 years old or over   

·         are pregnant 

·         are an adult or child with certain conditions

·         live with someone on the shielded patient list

·         are aged 50-64 (but please note that vaccinations will be given later in the year for this group)

·         are living in a care home or other long-stay facility

·         receive a carer's allowance, or you're the main carer for an elderly or disabled person

·         are aged 2-3

·         are in primary school, or the first year of secondary school (Year 7)

·         are a frontline health and social care worker.

This includes people in CNWL’s inpatient services. People in the community will be contacted by the NHSabout where to go to get the vaccine.

The flu vaccination is safe and effective and must be given annually. It cannot give you the flu. It does not protect you from COVID-19 or seasonal coughs and colds, but it does give protection against the strains of flu virus that will be circulating this year.

Adults usually receive the flu vaccination in injection form, and children usually receive a nasal spray.

When can I get the flu vaccination?

We expect that the flu vaccination will be available from October 2020. 

Where can I get the flu vaccination?

Many people will receive their flu vaccination at a GP surgery. Others may go to a pharmacy or another location in their community. School-aged children will receive their vaccination from a trained health professional at school or in their community. Health professionals will also visit care homes to vaccinate residents on-site.

At CNWL, staff will get the vaccine from our Occupational Health Service and Peer Vaccinators (these are staff working in the service who are trained to give the vaccine).

Is it safe to attend appointments at health clinics?

The NHS is doing everything it can to make sure that vaccinations are given in safe environments. All possible precautions will be to taken to make sure you, and staff, are protected.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not attend your vaccination appointment but instead self-isolate and book a coronavirus test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. You can rebook your flu vaccination appointment at a later date.

How will I know if I have the flu or COVID-19?

The flu virus and COVID-19 have symptoms which overlap, such as a high temperature or persistent cough. It may be difficult to tell which virus you have. For this reason, it’s really important that you have a flu vaccination if you are eligible, and that you continue to follow the guidance on self-isolation and testing at nhs.uk/coronavirus if you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19. Like Covid-19 you can give the flu to your friends and family without symptoms

There has never been a more important time to make sure you, and those you care for, are protected against serious illnesses such as the flu. Where vaccines are available, it’s vital that we use them to help keep everyone safe.

More information can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/who-should-have-flu-vaccine/ ​​​​​​​

Easy Read guides to flu vaccination for people with a learning disability.