Ahead of the flu season, we’ve put together this simple FAQ to clear up common myths and give you the facts you need. The flu vaccine is your best protection for you, and for the people around you.
Who should have a flu vaccine?
Flu vaccination is recommended for those who are most at risk of serious complications if they get flu. For adults this includes everyone aged 65 years and over, pregnant women, and those with certain long-term health conditions. Flu can be a serious illness in these people and the vaccine offers the best protection. Last year estimates of deaths from flu were over 7,000, so flu kills!
What is in the flu vaccine?
The vaccine changes every year to match what is predicted to be the most common strains of flu. This is done by reviewing the data form the other side of the world during our spring and summer (Australia’s Autumn and Winter). The vaccine contains the most common strains and this year there are three that are included. These vaccines are known as ‘trivalent,’ which is a fancy medical term to say it has three strains in.
Doesn’t the flu vaccine give you flu?… If you are injecting me with three strains?
No. That is a common misconception, but completely understandable. The virus is effective ‘dead.’ It is killed off, or ‘inactivated’ (another fancy medical term) so it cannot give you flu or replicate. What the vaccine does, is allow your body to identify what the virus looks like & to start to create a response if you were to become infected.
Now, after the vaccine, you may feel a little run down, muscle ache, slight fever, but this is just the body starting to develop an immune response and the tools to beat the virus. This is different from having flu.
Isn’t the children’s vaccine is a live virus though?
Yes, unlike the injections the nasal spray does contain a live virus because it’s designed to work a bit differently from the adult flu jab and that “live” part is not as scary as it sounds.
For most children, they will have the flu vaccine in the form of a nasal spray. This is called the LAIV vaccine (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine) but the virus is weakened or ‘attenuated’ (fancy medical term alert!) to such a point that it cannot cause flu in healthy people.
The spray mimics a natural infection in the nasal and upper airway, where the flu virus usually starts. This then kick starts the immune system to develop a response.
The weakened viruses can’t cause flu in healthy children, but they may cause mild symptoms like a runny nose or mild fever for a day or two.
Will I be fully protected if I have the vaccine?
No (but…. & it’s big BUT). No vaccine is 100% effective. The reason being that viruses adapt and mutate. During a flu season it is common for different strains of flu to change. This is known as ‘Genetic Drift (fancy medical term alert!). Flu is an expert at adapting and that is why each year you must have another flu vaccine.
Here comes the big but….
BUT…whilst no vaccine is 100% effective, this is the best way to protect yourself from catching flu. It does take around 14 days from after you have been vaccinated for the body to fully develop a response to the flu. If you are unlucky enough to catch flu after you have had the vaccine, then usually the symptoms are less severe, and you tend to recover much quicker
By getting a flu vaccination you will be not only be helping protect yourself but also those around you, including your family, friends and other people who may not be able to have the vaccine due medical reasons.
I have had flu before, so I don’t need the vaccine!
Sorry, but having it before, does not mean you will not get it again. The virus changes and adapts, so that is why each year we offer the vaccine to eligible patients. There is no such thing as natural immunity to the flu virus.
I am allergic to eggs and cannot have the flu vaccine. Is that true?
For many years, most flu vaccines have been prepared from flu viruses that are grown in hens’ eggs and the final vaccine product contained varying amounts of egg protein (known as ovalbumin).
One of the vaccines we will be using this year is not grown in eggs, but within cells, which means that it is ‘egg free.’ However, any patient with severe anaphylaxis to egg which has previously required intensive care, will be offered egg free vaccine or referred to a specialist.
If you are unsure, then do please contact the surgery and a GP will review and let you know what vaccine you will have. We can offer a non-egg-based vaccine if needed.
I heard that the vaccines contain pork products? I cannot have this on religious grounds.
It is only the child’s nasal spray that contains a highly purified form of gelatine from pigs. It is used as a stabiliser that protects the live (weaken remember) virus from the effects of temperature when being stored. Gelatine is commonly used across a range of other medicines and is safe to use.
Patients of those religions, which have dietary restrictions, are therefore naturally worried about this component in the vaccine. That is of course understandable and not a problem at all. We will have plenty of the injectable vaccines that we can offer than do not contain any pork products at all for you to have.
When should pregnant women get vaccinated?
Pregnant women should have the vaccine from September. This is because the protection from the vaccine is passed through the placenta to the baby, giving the baby protection for the first few months of life when they are particularly at risk from flu. Therefore, pregnant women shouldn’t delay vaccination, especially those who are heavily pregnant, as babies born during the flu season need to be protected against flu as well Mum.
When should children get vaccinated?
Vaccination for children who are offered a flu vaccine on the NHS will also start from September because their protection from the vaccine doesn’t decrease as quickly as it does in adults.
For school aged children (Reception to School Year 11) this will be undertaken in dedicated clinics at school rather than at the surgery.
Please note that for most children, this will be a nasal vaccine and not an injection. A few children may require the injection and if you are unsure, then please contact us.
Why do I have to wait until October for my flu vaccine?
Like last year, most eligible adults will be offered a flu vaccine from early October, which might be slightly later than in previous years. This is because the latest scientific evidence shows that protection from the flu vaccine decreases over time in adults. As we get older, our immune response weakens. This is known as ‘immunosenescence’ (wow super fancy medical term alert!).
It is better to have the vaccine closer to when flu typically circulates in the community. This being mid-November through to end January. By having the vaccine later, it means that your body is better prepared.
Are there any other exceptions?
Yes. For example, people starting chemotherapy may be vaccinated earlier & this will be decided with your GP or specialist. Contact your Consultant/Us we can decide whether it is appropriate.
When do I need to get my vaccination?
Flu typically starts to circulate in mid-November, so it’s best that you get the vaccine by the end of November as it takes up to 14 days to work. But even if it’s later than November, it is still worth having.
I’m think I have caught flu; will the vaccine help?
Sorry, but it is too late. The aim of the vaccine is to help the body recognise the virus and then start to build up a response to it. If you think that you have flu already, the vaccine will not be doing anything to help. Your body has already lost the initial battle so now you will need to have plenty of rest, drink lots of fluid and let your body fight the virus.
What should I do now?
We will be contacting eligible patients to offer them the flu vaccine. We will send SMS with booking link to pick a time that suits you. Or we will be calling and inviting you to book an appointment. There is no need to contact us, well contact you!
If you are pregnant, you can also ask your midwife.
What else do I need to do to help stop flu spreading?
After the vaccine the best way to help prevent flu, is handwashing. Simple and highly effective. There are multiple studies that show we touch our faces subconsciously anywhere from 16 to 23 times per hour. Simple handwashing with warm water and soap/ liquid hand wash you can drastically reduce your risk of not only getting flu but other illnesses too.
Use of hand sanitiser, if there is no where to wash your hands, can help if you are out and about.
Other advice is just common sense and when done together, can really help:
- Use disposable tissues and bin them immediately.
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.
- Keep surfaces clean.
- Stay home if you’re unwell.
So there you are. We hope that has answered some common questions about the flu virus and the benefits of the vaccine.
As always, if you are not sure or want to discuss anything further, then we are here for you. Call us or use the online form to drop us a question and will we be more than happy to help.