Seasonal flu vaccine now available

Annual vaccination against flu is extremely important for the at risk goups of patients who are most vulnerable from complications caused by the illness. The at risk groups include the elderly, those with chronic respiratory or heart disease, those who are immunosupressed and, this year, the vaccine is also being offered to pregnant women.

If you had a flu vaccine last year, you will need to get a new vaccine this year as the viruses mutate and change so that last years vaccine will not provide the same protection this year. The flu virus will be different this year so the vaccine is also different.

The Health Protection Agency took the decision to include the pandemic strain of swine flu (H1N1) in this years seasonal flu vaccine as the threat from swine flu continues. If you do receive the vaccine, it still doesn't guarantee that you won't catch the flu. Having the vaccine does, however, provide some degree of protection, especially amongst those groups most vulnerable to the complications.