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Flu Vaccination Programme
Information about the Flu Vaccination Programme.
Free flu vaccination for all staff
Cumberland Council is once again offering a free flu vaccination to all employees from Thursday 3 October 2024.
Flu season is approaching and it’s time to get your flu vaccination to beat the virus. Protect yourself, clients, friends, and family this winter by heading to your local participating pharmacy to get your free flu vaccination.
Flu is unpleasant and can be a serious or life-threatening illness and it spreads easily. Vaccination is the best way to prevent flu and protect yourself and others who may be more at risk of developing serious problems.
It can take up to two weeks for the flu vaccine to take effect, so it is advisable to book an early appointment.
How can I get my free flu vaccination?
You can get your free flu vaccination in just two easy steps (a voucher is no longer required).
Step 1. Find your nearest participating pharmacy (listed below) and book an appointment from Thursday 3 October 2024.
Step 2. Visit your pharmacy to get your flu vaccination. Don’t forget your staff ID card or other proof of employment.
Why should I get the flu vaccination?
- The vaccination is the most effective way to prevent flu.
- Vaccination will protect yourself and others from the virus.
- Flu is highly infectious It can spread easily from coughs and sneezes and can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours.
- Flu vaccination not only protects you from getting the virus, but it may also help prevent you spreading flu to other people who could be more at risk of developing serious problems.
- Flu is an unpleasant illness for most people. However, it can also be dangerous and even life threatening for some, particularly those with certain health conditions. The risk is real. Flu kills around 25,000 people a year in England and Wales.
- One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis, an infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia.
- Unvaccinated staff can pose a risk to vulnerable clients, friends, and family.
It is best to have your flu vaccination in the autumn or early winter before flu rates increase. Remember that you need it every year, so don’t assume you are protected because you had one last year.
Participating Pharmacies
Members of staff can access a free flu vaccination at any of the participating pharmacies detailed in the Participating Pharmacies Document (SharePoint).
Staff flu vaccination 2024/25 - FAQs
1. What is flu? Isn’t it just a bad cold?
A bad bout of flu can be much worse than a heavy cold. It is caused by highly infectious influenza viruses that infect the windpipe and lungs and is an unpleasant illness for most people. The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness. Healthy individuals usually recover within 2 to 7 days, but for some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death. The risk is real. Flu kills around 25,000 people a year in England and Wales.
Because it’s caused by viruses and not bacteria, antibiotics won’t treat this illness. One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis, an infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia.
2. Why should I have a flu vaccination?
Flu is very infectious. It can also be transmitted by people without symptoms, which increases the risk. Vaccination gives the best protection against the main types of flu viruses. It may also help prevent you spreading flu to other people, who may be more at risk from developing serious problems – high risk groups.
3. How do I know if I’m in a high-risk group?
The NHS has identified groups of people who are at higher risk of serious complications from flu. This includes older people, pregnant women and those in clinical risk groups with the following conditions: respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and bronchitis, diabetes, coronary heart disease and heart failure, being very overweight (BMI of 40 and above) chronic kidney disease, liver disease such as hepatitis, some neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, if you’ve had your spleen removed, if you have a weakened immune system because of conditions such as HIV and AIDS or if you are taking steroids or on chemotherapy.
If you belong to one of the groups mentioned in this guidance, it’s important that you have your flu vaccination. You should speak with your GP.
4. I’m not in a high-risk group? Do I still need a flu vaccination?
Yes. It’s true that some people are more at risk than others, but anyone, even those who are healthy can catch flu. It’s unpleasant and can be dangerous, as described above; that’s why Cumberland Council is providing a free flu vaccination for all staff. Flu vaccination will help protect you, your colleagues, your family and any client groups you work with.
5. How effective is the vaccine? Will it really make a difference?
Yes, vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against the main types of flu. There’s still a chance that you might get it, but if you do, it’s likely to be milder, and not last as long. The vaccination can take 10–14 days to work, so ideally, get yours sooner rather than later, before the virus starts circulating.
6. I had a flu jab last year. Do I need another?
Yes. If you had the flu vaccination last year, you need another one this year.
The flu viruses can change from one winter to the next. Flu vaccines are updated each winter to give protection against the strains of flu that are most likely to be going around. For this reason, we strongly recommend that even if you were vaccinated last year, you should be vaccinated again this year.
Also, protection from flu vaccination reduces over time so even if some of the strains are the same you should have a flu vaccine again each flu season.
The vaccine should provide protection throughout the current flu season.
7. Are there any side effects?
Flu vaccines are very safe. They are given by injection into the upper arm. There may be some mild side effects which last for a day or two. You may experience a slightly raised temperature and muscle aches or sore arm where the needle went in.
If this happens, you should continue to move your arm regularly and take a painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen – but note - some people, including those who are pregnant, should not take ibuprofen unless a doctor recommends it.
8. Can the flu jab give me flu? I’ve heard of this happening to some people.
No, there are several types of flu vaccine and none of them contain live viruses, so the flu jab cannot give you flu.
9. Are there people who should avoid vaccination?
Almost everybody can have the vaccine, but you should not be vaccinated if you have ever had a serious allergy to the vaccine, or any of its ingredients. If you are allergic to eggs or have a condition that weakens your immune system, you may not be able to have certain types of flu vaccine – check with your GP. If you have a fever, the vaccination should be delayed until you are better.
10. I’m pregnant. Should I still have the vaccine?
Yes, flu vaccination is recommended for pregnant women. Pregnancy alters how the body handles infections such as flu. Flu infection increases the chances of pregnant women and their babies needing intensive care.
All pregnant women should have a flu vaccine to protect themselves and their babies. A flu vaccine can be given safely at any stage of pregnancy, from conception onwards.
Pregnant women benefit from flu vaccination because it can:
- reduce their risk of serious complications such as pneumonia, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy
- reduce the risk of mother or baby needing intensive care
- reduce the risk of the baby being stillborn or premature
- help protect their baby who will continue to have some immunity to flu during the first few months of its life
- reduce the chance of the mother passing infection to her new baby.
11. I’ve heard that the flu vaccine can cause serious allergic reactions. Is this true?
It is very rare for anyone to have a serious allergic reaction to the flu vaccine. If it happens, it happens within minutes, and the person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with this and will treat you immediately. If you are concerned, speak with your GP.
12. My staff are fed up with vaccinations after the Covid-19 pandemic and are reluctant to be vaccinated. What should I do?
This is understandable, and you should acknowledge your staff’s feelings. The vaccination isn’t mandatory. You should, however, encourage staff uptake. Provide reliable information about flu and the importance of vaccination (such as the information available above). Make time to speak with your staff. You could set an example and get a flu vaccination yourself. If there are genuine fears, advise them to speak with their GP.