By Dr Anna Davey, GP
Last winter, we saw too many people end up in hospital with serious flu complications that could have been prevented.
Flu can be more than just a seasonal nuisance — it’s a serious illness that can require hospitalisation and can even be fatal. That’s why the flu vaccine is so important: it helps protect those who are most vulnerable and reduces the chance of severe illness. In fact, last year’s UKHSA data shows that flu vaccination reduced hospitalisations by 50% in adults and 60% in children.
For people living with long-term health conditions, flu can be especially dangerous. That’s why every year I encourage my patients at risk of serious illness to take up their free NHS flu vaccine.
If you live with diabetes, heart disease, respiratory problems, kidney or liver conditions, or have a weakened immune system, flu poses a significant threat to your wellbeing. What might be a week of feeling rough for someone else could land you in hospital or cause serious complications that take months to recover from – or worse.
That’s why the NHS offers free flu vaccination to people in these groups. It’s not a nice-to-have. It’s essential healthcare that could prevent serious illness and protect your long-term health and the health of those close to you.
The vaccine works by giving your immune system added protection against the flu viruses most likely to circulate this winter. It can’t give you flu, but it does prepare your body to fight off infection if you encounter the virus. Most people who have the vaccination either avoid flu entirely or experience much milder symptoms if they do catch it.
I often hear patients worry about whether they “really need” the vaccine if they’re feeling well. But flu vaccination isn’t about age – it’s about risk. A 35-year-old with asthma faces the same elevated risk as someone much older. A pregnant woman needs protection not just for herself, but for her unborn child too.
Getting vaccinated takes just minutes but provides months of protection. It also helps shield the people around you. When more people in a community are vaccinated, it reduces the overall spread – which helps us all.
Getting your flu jab is straightforward. You can book through your GP practice, visit a participating pharmacy, or attend one of the walk-in clinics running across mid and south Essex. And new for this year, children aged 2-3 can get the flu vaccine in local pharmacies.
Don’t wait until flu is already circulating widely in the community. The vaccine takes about two weeks to build full protection, so getting vaccinated now gives you the best chance of staying well throughout winter.
If you’re eligible for a free flu vaccination, please don’t leave it too late. Book your appointment today and give yourself the protection you deserve this winter.