Help Us, Help You - free flu vaccination for older people
 
People in Oxfordshire aged 65 and over are being invited to get a more effective vaccination to protect them against flu. 
Dr Edward Capo-Bianco, Clinical Locality Director at Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group said: “People aged 65 and over are at particular risk from the effects of flu and the vaccination is still the best protection for them.

“People are being offered a more effective vaccine this year, which helps their immune systems develop protection against flu. I would urge them to have the vaccination when they are invited by their GP practice to attend a flu clinic in the next few months. These clinics are being held to protect all at-risk patients from flu.”

Ed added: “The flu is not the same as getting a cold. It can seriously affect your health and the risks of developing complications are greater for people within the ‘at-risk’ groups. Healthy people usually recover within two to seven days, but for some the illness can lead to a stay in hospital, permanent disability or even death.”

Ruth Swift, Head of Community Development at Age UK Oxfordshire said: “It takes less than two minutes to have your flu jab and both you and the people you love or come into contact with will be better protected from getting the flu this year. We encourage everyone who can to seriously consider having their flu jab this year.

A flu vaccine is available for free on the NHS for the following:
·         Patients aged from six months to 65 years in clinical ‘at risk’ groups (see below)
·         Patients aged 65 and over
·         Pregnant women
·         All children aged two to nine (but not 10 years or older) on 31 August 2018
·         People in long-stay residential care homes
·         Carers

Children eligible for a flu vaccine 2018:
·         Children aged two to three years will have the vaccination as a nasal spray in GP practices.
·         Children in school years reception to and including Year 5 – these children will receive the nasal spray vaccination in schools from immunisation teams.
·         All other children with a health condition that puts them at greater risk from flu.

At risk conditions:
The free flu vaccine is available to patients who have one of the following conditions: a heart problem, a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma, kidney disease, lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment), liver disease, had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), diabetes, neurological condition e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS), morbid obesity (BMI over 40), cerebral palsy or learning disability.
For more information on the NHS flu vaccine visit www.nhs.uk or https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/