Flu Jabs

GET THE JAB THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

The East of England Ambulance Service is kick-starting its public winter campaign urging people at risk of flu to get protected and have the vaccine.
 
Dr Pamela Chrispin, EEAST's  Medical Director, said: “Flu is different to getting a cold and the effects of seasonal flu are often underestimated. Some people are more at risk from flu and need the vaccine because they are not able to fight off flu as easily as others. It can often result in more serious complications which require hospital treatment – and sometimes there can be devastating consequences.
 
“Flu is a highly infectious illness caused by a virus. It changes every year as does the vaccine to fight it, so it is important that those at risk protect themselves every year. This illness is preventable. I've had my vaccination, as I do every year – to protect myself, my family, my colleagues and my patients. Getting the influenza vaccination saves lives."
 
The vaccine is being provided free at GP surgeries across the eastern region for people with long term conditions, carers, those over 65 and pregnant women.
 
There are additional ways people can protect themselves and those around them. Good hand hygiene - the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ technique – reduces the spread of germs. This means carrying tissues, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use, and cleaning hands as soon as possible with soap and water or an alcohol hand gel.