Here’s a recap of the benefits of having a flu jab

Every October, the annual flu vaccination campaign begins.

Flu is caused by the influenza virus, which attacks the respiratory system and is spread quickly from person to person by airborne saliva spray when we cough and sneeze, or when we come into contact with surfaces that have been contaminated with infected mucous.

Flu is not a dangerous illness in itself, but there are some people at higher risk. Babies, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions are less able to shake it off and we must take care to protect them from catching it.

The symptoms of flu are a high temperature, aching muscles and joints, a severe headache, sneezing, shivering, general feeling of unwellness and cough.

How can I protect myself from catching the flu?

• Keep your hands clean.
• Ventilate stuffy environments.
• Always cover your mouth with a tissue with when you cough and sneeze.
• Eat a varied, healthy diet (fresh fruit, vegetables…)
• Carefully wash or disinfect items used by the sick person (cutlery, glasses, telephone…)
• Get a flu shot. There’s no more effective way of protecting yourself from infection.

The benefits of vaccination

The influenza virus, which causes the flu, mutates every year. Because of this, even though you may have had a shot last year, it won’t be effective this year. You need to have another one.

Who should get a flu jab and why is it a good idea?

If you get a flu shot, you won’t be able to catch the disease. If you can’t catch it, you can’t pass it on to those around you, so you are protecting them, too.

This is also a way of protecting vulnerable people who are more seriously affected by this virus. The high-risk groups are:

• Healthcare personnel
• Expectant mothers
• Children and adults with: respiratory or heart conditions, immune deficiency, oncology patients, transplant patients, diabetics, people with kidney disease or serious obesity.
• People aged over 65.

Vaccines contain the inactive virus and are administered in a single-dose subcutaneous injection.

The purpose of the vaccination is to reduce infection, hospitalisation, the frequency of the disease and its complications. The most common complications involve exacerbation of the patient’s underlying conditions and opportunistic bacterial infections that take advantage of a weak immune system and proliferate, leading to bronchitis and pneumonia. Flu can also cause difficulties controlling diabetes, heart and kidney failure, with all the risks that this entails. The flu vaccine is between 70-90% effective.

People who are hypersensitive to egg protein cannot have this vaccination. In case of doubt, always ask your doctor.

You may have a localised reaction to the vaccine, such as slight swelling in the injection site or you may feel slightly under the weather.

Ask your doctor, and don't hesitate to get a flu shot if you are in a high-risk group. Protect yourself from this uncomfortable, persistent virus this winter.

This post is also available in: Spanish