Why I get my flu Jab every year?

Frequently asked questions

What is the Flu?

The flu is a virus that causes an unpleasant and sometimes serious infection.

This can cause complications leading to hospital admission.

People who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 are also at risk of complications from flu.

Is flu like having a bad cold?

Flu is a serious illness which kills 11,000 people a year and hospitalises many more. It can lead to serious problems including pneumonia and organ failure.

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

The flu virus and COVID-19 have symptoms which are the same such as high temperature and cough. It may be difficult to tell which virus you have.

For this reason, it is really important that you have your flu jab if you are eligible.

The flu vaccine

The flu vaccine will not protect you against COVID-19, but it’s the best available protection against the flu virus.

Getting vaccinated reduces your chance of catching flu by 40-60%.

Most flu vaccines used in adults are made of inactivated vaccines, where the active part of the virus has been killed so it cannot infect you and make you sick.

The inactivated virus is used in the vaccine, which stimulates the body’s natural defence system but does not cause disease in healthy people.

What is in the flu vaccine?

There are several different brands of flu vaccine used in the UK each flu season and ingredients can vary from brand to brand.

All the ingredients are often present in very small quantities.

For more information click here. When you attend to get your vaccines jab, you can ask for a Patient Information Leaflet that will list all the ingredients in the vaccines.

Will it make me sick?

The flu vaccine does NOT give you flu.

Most of the side effect of the vaccine are mild and do not last long, usually 1-2 days.

All vaccines go through a long process of development and testing before they are available for use in the public.

You will only be offered a vaccine that has been tested already over a number of years and has been licenced by an organisation called the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as safe for use.

Is it safe to attend appointments at health clinics?

Your Doctor and local pharmacist will be doing everything they can to make sure that vaccinations are given in safe environments.

All possible precautions will be taken to make sure you and staff are protected.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not attend your vaccination appointments, but instead self-isolate and book a coronavirus test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

You can rebook your flu vaccination at a later date.