People most at-risk from the complications of flu are being urged to ensure they protect themselves and others and get vaccinated.
Dr Tony Jewell, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, warned that low vaccination rates could lead to a significant rise in deaths this winter.
For fit and healthy people, the symptoms of flu may be mild and they will recover quickly. However, people living with long term conditions, older people and pregnant women are more likely to suffer severe complications.
Those being encouraged to get vaccinated are:
- over 65s and people in long term care;
- people with chronic respiratory disease and some asthma sufferers;
- people with chronic heart, renal or liver disease;
- people with chronic neurological disease;
- people with diabetes;
- people who are immuno-suppressed;
- health professionals and paid or unpaid carers of the above; and
- pregnant women.
The vaccine changes each year to reflect the flu viruses that are circulating, so people who were vaccinated last year need to be vaccinated again this winter to stay protected.
Every year, pregnant women in at-risk groups are advised to have the seasonal flu vaccine. This year, all pregnant women are advised to have the seasonal flu vaccine if they have not already been vaccinated with the swine flu vaccine.
Pregnant woman are more vulnerable to flu than the general population, in particular swine flu, which may be circulating this year. Although the majority of pregnant women who catch flu will make a full recovery, they are more likely to become severely ill and ten times more likely than the rest of the population to be admitted to an intensive care unit if they catch flu. This risk is greatest in the last three months of pregnancy .
The vaccine will protect mother and baby against flu.
People in at-risk groups, even if they feel fit and healthy now, are being urged to contact their GP surgeries to arrange to receive the vaccination as early this winter as possible. An awareness campaign will also run across TV, radio and in locations such as GP surgeries and buses. The radio adverts will begin today.
Dr Jewell said:
“Vaccines are one of the most effective public health interventions for saving lives and protecting our health. They are the simplest and safest way of protecting people from seasonal flu and its complications.
“Many people think that flu is just a bad cold, but in fact it is much worse and can lead to other severe health complications. People know that the vaccine is available for the over 65s, but many people living with other health conditions aren’t always aware that they can get vaccinated as well. It is really important that people who are in at-risk groups do get vaccinated.”
Last year only 63 per cent of older people and 49 per cent of people with long term conditions had the vaccine last year. The target for Wales this year is for 75 per cent of those at risk to be vaccinated.
Dr Jewell added:
“Low vaccination rates mean a significant risk of a rise in the number of deaths. In the winter before last, there was a 74 per cent increase of excess winter deaths, the highest number since 1999/2000.”
The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, will be receiving her flu vaccination for this winter soon, and is encouraging other over 65s and people in the at-risk groups to do so as well.
She said:
“People who are over 65, even if they feel fit and well, should get vaccinated against seasonal flu. When you are older, you are more likely to have complications like bronchitis or pneumonia, which may result in a stay in hospital or cause you to lose your independence.
“The vaccination does not cause you to get the flu as it does not contain any live virus. It works by stimulating the body’s immune system into reacting as if there was a real infection- which the body will remember so it can fight it off quickly if met again.
“It is also important that carers of elderly or disabled people should also be vaccinated to ensure that those they look after will stay healthy and cared for.”
Local Health Boards will be organising community vaccination days and vaccination drop-in centres across Wales. More information about these days will be available from your local GP surgery.
Melanie, aged 22, from Cardiff is an insulin dependent diabetic, and has been for almost ten years. She is an athlete who has made it to international standard and manages her condition well, allowing her not only to compete for Wales, but she has also recently completed a degree in fashion. She said:
“I am fit and healthy and live an active and busy life. I don’t feel unwell or feel like I might be more likely to become ill from flu, but I still think it is important that I get vaccinated against it. I know that people with diabetes are more at risk of complications from the flu such as pneumonia.”
John Pierce Jones is a well-known welsh actor, most famous for his role in the popular S4C programme, C’mon Midffild. He said:
“I am in one of the at-risk groups who are eligible for the free seasonal flu vaccine, as I suffer from renal problems. In fact, I have recently lost the use of one of my kidneys, which means it is even more important for me to protect myself from the flu.
“The flu can be very, very dangerous for people like me who can become seriously ill from complications from the flu, so I had no qualms what-so-ever about going for this vaccination. I will be vaccinated again soon to ensure that I am protected from the flu viruses that are circulating this year.”
Jennie has cared for her severely disabled daughter Sasha for 39 years. She said:
“I recommend that all carers take advantage of the flu jab, because the people that we care for are the people that we care the most about.
“I also need to make sure that I am fit and well so I can continue to care – I can’t afford to have a week of being too unwell to be able to care for my daughter.”
