Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Network

Let's talk about Flu - Making Every Contact Count

28 November 2019

Cold weather can be seriously bad for your health. That's why it's important to look after yourself, especially during the winter.

As we get older, changes to our bodies mean that cold weather and winter bugs affect us more than they used to. But what’s changed and why does it mean were more likely to get sick over winter.

Colds, flu and pneumonia are all more common in winter. Last year over 60% of cases of flu that needed hospital treatment were in people over 65. So it’s a good idea for us all to use the MECC approach and encourage people who are more at risk to take up the flu jab and undertake simple actions to lower the risk of catching flu.

We have added a 'Flu' section on our MECC Link web app, to encourage and support your opportunistic conversations to help protect others this winter.  

To 10 messages and myth busters for people that are eligible for the free flu jab

1. Flu is much worse than a heavy cold flu symptoms can be severe and can come on suddenly.  You're likely to spend several days in bed and feel unwell.  Some people become seriously ill and have to go to hospital
2. You are at greater risk of complications from flu - if you're eligible for flu vaccination, then you need it!
3. The flu vaccine is very safe
4. The flu vaccine is the best protection we have against an unpredictable virus
5. The flu vaccine CANNOT give you flu your arm might be a bit sore where you were injected and some people may have a slight temperature
6. The flu vaccine stimulates your body's immune system to make antibodies to attack the virus - if you're exposed to the virus after you've been vaccinated, your immune system will recognise the virus and produce antibodies to fight it.
7. It can take up to two weeks for the flu vaccine to work - so get vaccinated as soon as you can
8. You need to have the flu vaccine each year because the circulating strains of the virus change and so different vaccines are produced to match
9. Pregnant women can have the vaccination at any stage of pregnancy, flu can make you and your baby very ill.  Vaccination can protect you baby against flu after they're born and during their first few months
10. Your vaccination helps to protect those around you too, so elderly relatives, those with long-term conditions and other family members are all protected by your vaccination

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