12 December 2012
Pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions are being reminded to get the seasonal flu vaccine from their GP.
People in a 'clinical-at-risk' group, along with pregnant women, are at greater risk of developing complications if they catch the flu. These groups include people with
- diabetes
- chronic lung disease
- chronic heart disease
- kidney disease
- neurological disease
- liver disease
- asthma requiring repeated use of inhalers / steroids
- immunosuppresion
Medical Officer of Health, Dr Susan Turnbull, said “It’s too early to say yet whether we will see a lot of flu circulating this winter but we would urge people who are listed in a “clinical-at-risk” group not to put their health at risk but to contact their GP and get the flu vaccine if they have not done so already.
"Pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions are more at risk than others of suffering complications, if they catch flu. These include people with diabetes, chronic lung, heart, kidney, neurological or liver disease; people with asthma that requires them to have continuous or repeated use of inhalers or steroids and people whose immune systems are suppressed. GPs have contacted people in these groups to remind them to come in for the vaccine, and we would urge anyone who received a letter to get the flu vaccine. We would recommend people who are in one of the clinical 'at risk' groups to get the vaccine now, while stocks are available.”
Pregnant women should also get the vaccine from their GP or from the Hospital’s ante-natal clinic during their routine appointment. Healthcare workers in the Health and Social Services Department continue to be offered the vaccine and those working in care homes are also encouraged to get vaccinated.
Dr Turnbull added “We all know that life is very busy, but if you are in one of the groups at most risk of complications should you get flu, now is the time to make an appointment and get vaccinated.
"Data from the UK and other parts of the world shows quite clearly that people who have underlying health conditions are twice or three times as likely to develop serious complications as a result of catching flu. Pregnant women are four to ten times more likely to be seriously affected. Millions of doses of seasonal flu vaccine have been given over the years and all the data we have indicates it is safe and is our best protection against flu.”
gov.je