Why risk flu? Time to get free vaccine

This won’t hurt. . . Gill Preston (back left) and Mal Colier with patient Samuel Preston

A ROYTON nurse and her teenage son are urging people in Oldham most at risk of developing serious complications from flu to get their free jab.

Peripatetic practice nurse Gill Preston and her son Samuel (16) received their flu jab at Westwood Medical Practice yesterday to highlight the campaign.

Samuel has had the jab for the past six years while Gill has had her jab for 15 years. Now they are encouraging others to see how important it is.

As Samuel has asthma, it is particularly important that he stays protected against flu.

Mrs Preston said: “I have had my jab for a long time because I want to protect the health of patients and my own.

“It is important that health professionals who have contact with patients have their jab so they can try to keep themselves and others as safe and healthy as possible.

“Flu can be a serious illness for anyone but can be especially serious for people as they get older and if they have long-term conditions such as asthma.

“So I want to make sure Samuel and I stay protected against flu.”

The call is timed to coincide with launch of Oldham’s annual flu immunisation campaign, which aims to help increase the number of flu jabs issued to those in at-risk groups.

They include adults and children with asthma, people with heart disease and diabetes, and everyone aged 65 or over.

Alan Higgins, director of public health for Oldham, said: “Common colds are frequently confused with flu, but flu can be potentially life-threatening.

“Those at greater risk of developing serious complications from flu should get themselves down to their local surgery as soon as possible to protect themselves from the virus in the months to come.”

Flu jab business cards and information leaflets and posters will be distributed across Oldham, to help raise further awareness about flu and why the jab is so important.

The flu vaccine does not contain any live virus, so it cannot cause flu.

And those who got the jab last year will need to get a new jab this winter, as the virus changes every year and the vaccine needs to match the latest version of the virus.

Practical tips to help avoid spreading germs and to help avoid infection yourself include always covering your cough and sneeze with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use and washing your hands as soon as you can.

Find out more by visit www.nhs.uk/flu