Available Flu Clinics for 2010 - telephone 01244 325421 to book.

Influenza (Flu) and the Flu jab

The flu vaccination is safe and effective. Most people experience no or only very minor side effects and the vaccine cannot give you flu.

If you are aged 65 or over, or are in an "At Risk" group please contact the surgery to make your free Flu jab appointment. If you are in the"At Risk" category you should have already received an invitation to attend the surgery.

Flu is a highly infectious illness, which spreads very rapidly by coughs and sneezes from people who are already carrying the virus. The virus circulates every winter, usually over a period of a few weeks, so that a lot of people get ill around the same time.

The flu jab is the best protection against the virus. You can get a free flu jab if you are:

• 65 or over,
  
• living in an old people’s home or nursing home,
  
• are over 6 months old and have a long-term (chronic) condition such as a heart problem, asthma, COPD, kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease or
  
• have a lowered immune system due to disease or treatment such as steroid medication or cancer treatment.
  
• Are a carer.

More detailed information on Flu can be obtained from the Department of Health website (external website).

You can also:

• Click on the "Search" button to the left of this notice to obtain information from "Patient UK" (external webesite).
  
• Call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47
  
• Or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk (external website)