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| Flu jab 2020: Who’s eligible for a free vaccine? | |
| (30 days later) | |
| Health officials are trying to make sure everyone who needs a flu vaccine this autumn gets one. | Health officials are trying to make sure everyone who needs a flu vaccine this autumn gets one. |
| Thirty million people will be offered the vaccine - the UK's largest flu-immunisation programme to date. | Thirty million people will be offered the vaccine - the UK's largest flu-immunisation programme to date. |
| The fear is the annual flu season will coincide with a coronavirus surge. | The fear is the annual flu season will coincide with a coronavirus surge. |
| How can I get a flu jab? | |
| The NHS offers the flu vaccine via your GP or your local pharmacy. | |
| This year, the free vaccination is being offered in England to: | |
| Health officials in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are planning to cover similar groups. | |
| Later in the year, the flu vaccine may be given to people aged 50 to 64. But the NHS says anyone aged 50-64, and in an at-risk group, should "not delay" having the flu vaccine. | |
| Doctors also want to increase vaccination levels in the most deprived areas and among people from ethnic minorities. | |
| Many pharmacies will also offer the jab privately for about £20, although Boots has temporarily suspended bookings for anyone under the age of 65, to ensure its existing stock is prioritised for those at highest risk. | |
| How bad is flu? | |
| Flu - or influenza - is a very common, highly infectious disease, caused by a virus. | Flu - or influenza - is a very common, highly infectious disease, caused by a virus. |
| It can be deadly - particularly for older adults, very young children and people with underlying health conditions. | It can be deadly - particularly for older adults, very young children and people with underlying health conditions. |
| The average number of estimated deaths in England for the past five annual flu seasons is more than 11,000 - but there have been big variations each winter. | The average number of estimated deaths in England for the past five annual flu seasons is more than 11,000 - but there have been big variations each winter. |
| There were more than 22,000 estimated deaths in the 2017-18 season, but just short of 4,000 deaths in 2018-19. | There were more than 22,000 estimated deaths in the 2017-18 season, but just short of 4,000 deaths in 2018-19. |
| Can you get flu and coronavirus together? | Can you get flu and coronavirus together? |
| Theoretically yes, it is possible. | Theoretically yes, it is possible. |
| There's some evidence that a double infection - of Covid-19 and flu together - could be more deadly than getting either single virus. | |
| But there's also a school of thought - yet to be proven in the case of coronavirus and flu - that having one virus could potentially help prevent a second from entering the body at the same time. | But there's also a school of thought - yet to be proven in the case of coronavirus and flu - that having one virus could potentially help prevent a second from entering the body at the same time. |
| What is clear is that a big flu season combined with coronavirus could overwhelm hospitals - especially if lots of NHS or care-home staff are off sick with flu. | What is clear is that a big flu season combined with coronavirus could overwhelm hospitals - especially if lots of NHS or care-home staff are off sick with flu. |
| Who should take extra care and why? | Who should take extra care and why? |
| The worry is that certain groups of people - the elderly, pregnant women and those with long-term health conditions - are at high risk of becoming seriously ill from both coronavirus and flu. | The worry is that certain groups of people - the elderly, pregnant women and those with long-term health conditions - are at high risk of becoming seriously ill from both coronavirus and flu. |
| And while many healthy people can fight off the flu, there can be complications - most commonly a bacterial chest infection, which can develop into pneumonia. | And while many healthy people can fight off the flu, there can be complications - most commonly a bacterial chest infection, which can develop into pneumonia. |
| Other potential life-threatening complications include meningitis and septic shock. | |
| Could things actually be better this year? | Could things actually be better this year? |
| Some countries in the southern hemisphere including South Africa and Australia - both nearing the end of their flu seasons - have reported lower levels of the illness than expected. | Some countries in the southern hemisphere including South Africa and Australia - both nearing the end of their flu seasons - have reported lower levels of the illness than expected. |
| This could be partly because coronavirus lockdown measures - social distancing, masks and extra hand-washing - have also helped reduced the spread of flu. | This could be partly because coronavirus lockdown measures - social distancing, masks and extra hand-washing - have also helped reduced the spread of flu. |
| But doctors say there's no guarantee the UK flu season will follow the same trend, particularly as lockdowns ease, and are urging people to be vaccinated. | But doctors say there's no guarantee the UK flu season will follow the same trend, particularly as lockdowns ease, and are urging people to be vaccinated. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) also warns of caution when interpreting trends. | The World Health Organization (WHO) also warns of caution when interpreting trends. |
| In some countries, for example, reduced staffing levels during the Covid-19 pandemic could mean flu cases are not recorded in the same way as before. | In some countries, for example, reduced staffing levels during the Covid-19 pandemic could mean flu cases are not recorded in the same way as before. |
| Do I have flu or coronavirus? | Do I have flu or coronavirus? |
| Many of the symptoms are similar for both viruses: | Many of the symptoms are similar for both viruses: |
| Some people may also experience muscle aches, a headache, and possibly diarrhoea or vomiting. | Some people may also experience muscle aches, a headache, and possibly diarrhoea or vomiting. |
| And if you add in other common winter viruses it can be hard to be sure what is making someone ill. | And if you add in other common winter viruses it can be hard to be sure what is making someone ill. |
| Remember, both flu and coronavirus can also be spread before people have any symptoms - or by people who don't get symptoms at all. | Remember, both flu and coronavirus can also be spread before people have any symptoms - or by people who don't get symptoms at all. |
| Is it safe to get the vaccine at my local GP surgery? | |
| Because of the pandemic, health staff are being urged to: | Because of the pandemic, health staff are being urged to: |
| Pregnant women may be offered jabs during antenatal appointments. | Pregnant women may be offered jabs during antenatal appointments. |
| Are there enough supplies? | Are there enough supplies? |
| The Department of Health and Social Care says it has ordered additional quantities of the adult vaccine to ensure demand does not outstrip supply. | The Department of Health and Social Care says it has ordered additional quantities of the adult vaccine to ensure demand does not outstrip supply. |
| Will the flu vaccine work? | Will the flu vaccine work? |
| Every year, the WHO looks at the current circulating flu strains before recommending what the next set of vaccines should contain. | Every year, the WHO looks at the current circulating flu strains before recommending what the next set of vaccines should contain. |
| But because the vaccines often have to be made six months in advance, they can only ever be a prediction. | But because the vaccines often have to be made six months in advance, they can only ever be a prediction. |
| Experts say it's better to be vaccinated against some strains of flu than none at all - particularly during a pandemic. | Experts say it's better to be vaccinated against some strains of flu than none at all - particularly during a pandemic. |
| What do I need to know about the coronavirus? | What do I need to know about the coronavirus? |