When to start thinking about getting your ‘flu jab’

Free Photo | Free photo doctor vaccinating a patient in a clinic (freepik.com)

There is no better way to protect against the flu than by getting your flu vaccination each year. For most people the flu is an unpleasant bout of fever, aching muscles, chills, congestion and unrelenting fatigue. But for those more vulnerable, flu is a virus that can lead to more serious health concerns. There are outbreaks most winters, and each year the flu virus changes. The annual vaccine targets these new strains and can reduce the risk of experiencing severe symptoms if you do catch it.

The importance of getting a flu vaccine
It is important that if you are eligible for the flu vaccine (see the full eligibility list below) that you book your vaccine as soon as possible to:

• help protect individuals around you
• protect other vulnerable people in our communities
• help reduce the strain on our health and care services 

Eligibility for the flu vaccine

• Aged six months to 64 years in clinical risk groups (see the list of groups included in the link Eligibility for the vaccine - Public Health Wales (nhs.wales) )
• Aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March 2024)
• Aged two and three years on 31 August 2023
• Pregnant women 
• Carers 
• People with a learning disability 
• Staff in nursing homes and care homes with regular client contact 
• Staff providing domiciliary care

Clinical risk groups
You are aged six months to 64 years and have a long-term health condition that puts you at increased risk from flu, these include, but are not limited to:

• Diabetes
• A heart problem
• A chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma that requires regular steroid inhalers or tablets
• Kidney disease (from stage 3)
• Lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (and also close contacts of people in this group)
• Liver disease
• Had a stroke or mini stroke
• A neurological condition like Parkinson’s disease, or motor neurone disease
• A missing spleen or a problem with it
• Learning disability
• Severe mental illness
• Morbidly obese (class III obesity). This with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above, aged 16 or over.
• Epilepsy
• You live in a care home
• You are homeless

Book your Flu Vaccine 
September is the recommended time to book your flu vaccination in anticipation of the flu season. Contact your GP practice to schedule an appointment and ensure you are protected for the upcoming flu season.