'Beat Flu': Top Wales Health Officials Unite Behind Campaign
by Pharmacy Life - Published on 02 November 2014
Wales’s top health officials have urged people with long-term health conditions to get protected against flu. Those suffering from heart, chest, kidney, liver or respiratory problems, as well as diabetics and people who have suffered a stroke or mini stroke, are at higher risk of becoming very ill with flu than the general population.
'It was encouraging to see an increase in the number of people receiving the flu vaccination last year,' said Wales’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Ruth Hussey. 'However, if you did have it last year you still need to do so again now as immunity decreases over time and flu viruses can change each year, which is why new vaccines are produced annually.
'The vaccination offers good protection against flu, with protection starting around a week to ten days after the vaccination is given. People with long-term conditions, as well as those aged 65 and over and pregnant women, must get protected as soon as possible now the flu season has started.'
Head of the British Medical Association in Wales, Dr Richard Lewis, agrees that those suffering with long term health conditions must pay particular care this winter and avoid catching flu by getting the jab as soon as possible.
'It is important that the flu campaign reaches as many vulnerable and ‘at-risk’ people as possible,' he said, 'because flu can cause serious complications and even lead to death. The vaccination can reduce both the likelihood of getting flu and the severity of the illness of those unfortunate enough to catch it.
'GPs are prepared for this winter’s battle against the flu bug. Across the country, surgeries have put in place the systems needed to reach and protect as many older and at risk patients as possible.'
Last year, for the first time, more than 50 per cent of people aged under 65 at risk had the flu vaccine, which despite being a slight increase on the previous year (+1.4 per cent) still falls short of the Welsh Government’s 75 per cent target uptake.
The best uptake of all the clinical ‘at risk’ groups was people with diabetes, with 65.5 per cent getting vaccinated last year. People with chronic liver disease were amongst the lowest uptake figures – with just 41.3 per cent being protected with the vaccine.
Support for the annual Beat Flu campaign has been widespread in Wales – with representatives from the Royal College of Midwives and leading charities such as Kidney Wales and British Lung Foundation Wales having already pledged to Beat Flu, amongst many more.
The annual flu vaccination programme aims to ensure that the people who need it most get free protection each year against flu. This year, for the second year running, a flu nasal spray vaccine is being offered to children who were two or three years old (on 31 August) and school year 7 pupils - and for the first time, four year olds have been added to the routine flu vaccination programme.