Influenza (or the flu) is a highly contagious, acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person. The flu can spread from person to person by:

• Droplets spreading from an infected person when they cough, sneeze or talk,
• Touching surfaces contaminated by infected droplets (including hands, remote controls, phones, keyboards and door handles) and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Signs and Symptoms:

Symptoms usually appear 1 to 3 days after becoming infected.

The symptoms of flu can include:

• fever
• sore throat
• dry cough
• headache
• muscle and joint pain
• tiredness or extreme exhaustion

In the elderly, fever may be absent and the only signs and symptoms of flu may be:

• confusion
• shortness of breath
• worsening of a chronic condition

Annual vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of getting the flu and its complications. Vaccination is encouraged to protect not only yourself but also your family/friends with lowered immunity (babies, grandparents etc). The period where the flu is at its peak of circulation is around June to September, but it is never too late to vaccinate as it can potentially circulate all year round.

The vaccine does not contain live flu viruses and cannot cause flu. However, some people may experience mild flu-like symptoms for up to 48 hours as their immune system responds to the vaccine.

It is required that patients wait at least one day between receiving a Flu Vaccine and a COVID-19 Vaccine.

There are some very mild and short term common side effects associated with flu vaccination, normally lasting no more than 48 hours. These side effects may be more noticeable in children under five years of age. Side effects include:

• Drowsiness or tiredness
• Muscle aches
• Localised pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• Occasionally, an injection-site lump (nodule) that may last many weeks but needs no treatment
• Low-grade temperature (fever)

Very rarely do more serious side effects occur. These tend to be allergic (anaphylactic) reactions to components in the vaccine.

If you are concerned that your side effects are persisting for too long, or they increase in severity, or become concerning to you, please book an appointment or walk in and see one of our GPs or, if required, call 000.

For some patients, vaccination may not be appropriate. People who this might apply to include:

• Patients who currently have an illness resulting in a fever greater than or equal to 38.5^oC
• People with a lowered immunity caused by either a medical condition or medical treatment
• People who have had a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis following a previous dose of the vaccine in question, or to a component of the vaccine
• Patient with a history of Guillian Barré syndrome
• Patient with a bleeding disorder

Please discuss this with one of our GPs if you are unsure as to whether the flu vaccine is appropriate for you.

Upon request you will be provided with a statement that includes:

• Name and date of birth
• All vaccine details
• Date and time of vaccination
• General Practice information
• Name of the nurse who administered the vaccination