With cases of potentially deadly flu and Covid-19 expected to soar in the coming months, keep yourself and others safe by getting vaccinated against both.
As the party season fast approaches, many of us are making elaborate plans to eat, drink and be merry to make up for last year’s damp squib of celebrations.
But as we get together with friends and family, we have to remember we’re not only still in the middle of a pandemic, but there’s another virus we now have to worry about.
Because this winter, we’re not just having to fight Covid, but we are likely to see a rise in flu, too.
Last year, flu cases were low because of the steps we were taking to combat the pandemic: washing our hands, covering our faces and staying at home didn’t just help prevent the spread of coronavirus, but flu, too.
So, it’s easy to forget flu is a virus that claims, on average, a staggering 11,000 lives a year in England.
Add that to the rising cases of Covid, and it all presents an incredibly serious problem not just to individuals, but to the already struggling NHS as well.
Especially so, as research shows you’re more likely to get seriously ill if you catch flu and Covid at the same time.
Experts fear that, because of the lack of mixing last winter, our natural immunity to flu may be lower than before the pandemic. So there could be a significant surge in cases.
And because of the cold weather, we’ll be indoors more, making us more likely to catch and transmit viruses.
That’s why everyone who is eligible is being urged not just to have their Covid booster (or primary jabs, if they haven’t had them yet), but the flu vaccine as well this winter (see box, opposite, for who is eligible).
While most people have two doses of the Covid jab as part of their first (primary) course, and many are then eligible for a booster, vaccination experts have recommended three doses in the ‘primary’ course for people who have a severely weakened immune system, to get a good level of protection from Covid-19.
The latest data show that protection provided by the Covid vaccine falls after six months, particularly for older adults and at-risk groups.
Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: ‘We are facing a challenging winter, but we can all help ourselves and those around us by taking up the COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine, if eligible.
‘Getting vaccinated against both viruses will not only help to protect us and our loved ones, but will also help protect the NHS from potential strain this winter.’
When and how will I be offered a COVID booster jab?
The NHS will let eligible people know how to get their booster, which people can have from six months after their second dose. People with certain health conditions may be offered the Covid-19 booster earlier.
Thousands of locations across the country offer a Covid-19 booster to give people choice and convenient access. If you are eligible, you will be able to book an appointment at a vaccination centre, designated pharmacy or GP-led service using the NHS Covid-19 national booking service.
Alternatively, you can simply go to a walk-in service by using the NHS ‘Grab a Jab’ walk-in site finder. This is alongside many GP-led services and hospitals directly inviting people to be vaccinated through their services.
Should I get the booster if I’ve recently caught COVID?
If you’ve recently tested positive, wait four weeks (or 28 days) from the date of your test before booking a booster.
Can I have both the COVID booster and flu jabs at the same time?
It’s perfectly safe to have Covid booster and flu jabs at the same time. The NHS may not be able to schedule these together, so take either appointment as soon as you’re offered one.
How effective is the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine helps protect against the main strains of flu viruses, and if you have it, although there’s still a chance you might get the virus, it’s likely to be milder and not last as long. It also stops you spreading it to other people who may be more at risk.
How quickly does the flu vaccine become effective?
It can take 10 to 14 days for the vaccination to take effect.
Is there a flu vaccine for children?
Yes – and it’s important they have it, as children catch and spread the virus very easily. But it’s not an injection: the vaccine comes in the form of a nasal spray for those aged two and three, all primary and all secondary school children up to Year 11.
It’s not licensed for use in those aged under two (as of August 31 2021), but any child aged six months or over with a long-term health condition that puts them at higher risk from flu will be offered an injection.
Are there any side effects?
The most common side effects of the children’s nasal spray are minor and include a runny or blocked nose, headache, tiredness and some loss of appetite. If you get the injection, your arm may
be sore, too, or you might experience a slight fever or aching muscles for a day or two afterwards. Serious side effects with both the jab and nasal spray are extremely rare.
How will my child be vaccinated against flu?
Most children will be vaccinated at school, but those who have not started yet, or who are in a high-risk group, can also get it from their GP.
I’m pregnant – is it safe to get the COVID and flu jabs?
Yes – both are safe for pregnant women, and it’s important to have both if eligible. There are more risks for you and your pregnancy if you contract Covid-19 without the vaccine, and the flu vaccine will also help protect your unborn baby.
If you catch flu when pregnant, you’re at risk from complications such as bronchitis and it could cause your baby to be born prematurely, have a low birth weight and may even lead to stillbirth.
If you are pregnant, you can get a free flu vaccine from your GP, pharmacist or through your maternity service.
◼ To check your eligibility for the flu vaccine and Covid-19 booster vaccine or to find a service, visit nhs.uk/wintervaccinations
‘I’m pregnant but I’m going to have the flu jab’
Kendall Platt, 35, is the Mindful Gardening Coach, and she encourages others to look after their wellbeing through gardening. She lives in Reading with her husband, Dave, and daughter Arwen, three.
She says: ‘I’ve had both my Covid jabs. I’m not worried at all about having the flu jab while pregnant – I also had it when I was expecting Arwen, because when you’re pregnant the consequences of flu can be heightened. I used to work as a forensic scientist and look at all the proper scientific evidence before making a personal assessment.
‘I can understand why people are concerned, but you have to look after your own health – if you’re not around, that’s not going to help anyone, so there was no doubt in my mind I was going to have it.’
‘If I can do my bit for the NHS, I will’
Kelly Newton, 50, runs BP3, which makes absorbent, leak-proof underwear for women, and lives in Croydon, south London, with her husband and six children, aged 14 to 21.
She says: ‘In December 2019 I was struggling to breathe. Doctors first thought it was pleurisy, then shingles, but when it turned into pneumonia, I ended up in hospital.
‘I’ve now got scarring on my lungs and am frightened of catching flu – I could end up with pneumonia again, even after getting a cold.
‘So as soon as I was offered the flu vaccine, there was no way I wasn’t having it. I’m really pleased the Government is doing it.
‘The NHS is under so much pressure, if I can do my bit I will. That’s why I’m now triple vaxxed against Covid – I got my booster last month. It was really important to me because of my health issues and to keep everyone else safe.’
Am I eligible for both the flu vaccine and COVID booster jab?
People aged 50 and over, care home workers and residents and frontline health and social care workers are eligible for both jabs. So are those over 16 with a high-risk health condition.
■ This article is part of a paid-for partnership with the UK Government
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