For 47-year-old Clare from Southend, getting her flu vaccination each year is something she doesn’t think twice about. Living with asthma and Crohn’s disease, as well as other long-term conditions, she knows how important it is to protect herself – and others – from flu.
“I’ve been having the flu jab for as long as I can remember,” said Clare. “With my health conditions, it’s vital. But even without them, the more people who have it, the more we limit the spread and reduce the risk to others. It’s not just about me – it’s about everyone.”
Clare has experienced flu several times in the past and knows just how unpredictable it can be.
“Flu is not fun. You can’t know if you’ll have a mild response or one that knocks you out for two weeks. I’ve had both, and when it’s bad, it can lead to further complications. It’s really not worth the risk.”
As a parent, Clare also makes sure her children are vaccinated.
“Children are the best spreaders, but they can also get extremely ill themselves,” she explained. “My eldest is on immunosuppression medication, so it’s even more important for him to have it. If my children were to catch flu, I’d be the one caring for them while also managing my own conditions – it’s something I don’t want to risk.”
For Clare, vaccination is about community protection and fairness.
“I think everyone who can should get the flu jab to help reduce the spread and protect those who can’t be vaccinated,” she said. “Flu doesn’t discriminate – you can get very sick whatever age you are. Because there are different strains every year, you never know how it will affect you.”
She’s passionate about the value of vaccines and the difference they make globally.
“I’m really passionate about vaccination. If everyone had them, there would be a lot less illness in this world. We’re fortunate in this country to be able to access low-cost and free vaccinations that save lives. In other countries, people still die from diseases that are preventable here. We can’t remove all diseases, but we can make our bodies better able to handle them.”
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