Frequently asked questions:

What is flu?

  • Flu is a viral infection that can make you feel very tired and unwell.
  • Flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill.
  • Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include a sudden high temperature, aching body, feeling tired and headache.

 

Who is most at risk of flu?

  • People in older age groups, young children, pregnant women and those with certain long-term health conditions are most at risk of getting seriously ill with flu.

 

I got the flu vaccine last year, do I need to be vaccinated this year?

  • If you had a flu vaccine last year, you do need another one this year.
  • The flu viruses can change from one winter to the next. Flu vaccines are updated each winter to give protection against the strains of flu that are most likely to be going around.
  • Also, protection from flu vaccination goes down with time so even if some of the strains are the same you should have a flu vaccine again each flu season.

 

Why should I get vaccinated against flu?

  • Getting your flu vaccination is one of the most important things you can do as a healthcare worker this winter.
  • Last winter, around 8,000 people died from flu in England. This is the equivalent of 9 airbuses A380 crashing last year.
  • Vaccination prevented 96,000–120,200 hospitalisations. This the equivalent of filling twice the capacity of Liverpool Football Club.
  • Healthcare workers are more likely to catch and spread flu.
  • Getting vaccinated means you’re less likely to catch flu, be severely unwell with flu and pass flu on to others including family members and patients.

 

I am healthy and haven’t had flu before, do I still need the vaccine?

  • Being healthy doesn’t stop you from catching or spreading flu. You may not have symptoms but can still pass it on to vulnerable people.

 

Does the vaccine work?

  • The vaccine reduces your likelihood of getting flu and provides protection for three months after vaccination.
  • The vaccine also makes flu symptoms milder and shorter if you do get it.

 

Are there any side effects?

  • Most people have no side effects following the vaccine.
  • Some may have a mild temperature for 1–2 days or a sore arm where they received the vaccination.
  • These possible side effects are much milder than actual flu.

 

The vaccine made me ill last time, I’m worried this may happen again?

  • The flu vaccine cannot give you flu. Side effects like mild fever or sore arm are common and short-lived.

 

I’ve had flu recently, do I still need it?

  • Flu strains can change each year. Past infection doesn’t guarantee protection against current variants.

 

I thought flu was just a bad cold, why do I need to have a vaccine for it?

  • While colds and flu share some similar symptoms (eg: blocked nose, sore throat, high temperature), make no mistake: a bad bout of flu is much worse than a cold.
  • Flu tends to cause more fever, tiredness and muscle aches that common coughs and cold.
  • If you get complications caused by flu, you could become seriously ill and need a hospital stay.
  • Whereas cold symptoms normally develop over one or two days, flu symptoms come on quickly and sometimes severely.

 

I work in an office and don’t have a patient facing role, do I still need the vaccine? Am I eligible?

  • Yes, all staff are eligible to have the flu vaccine.
  • Healthcare workers are more likely to catch and spread flu.
  • Flu vaccination not only protects you as an individual and your family but also reduces the spread of flu within the organisation.

 

I had the Covid vaccine too last year, why can’t I have it this year?

  • COVID-19 has changed from a pandemic threat to becoming a common milder infection. This year, the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination  and Immunisation, the group that advises the government on vaccinations) has reviewed the current evidence and advised that additional COVID-19 doses for healthcare workers provides limited protection against infection and onward transmission.
  • Therefore, we are moving to a targeted COVID vaccination programme, meaning only those who are at the highest risk of serious disease will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this winter.
  • Staff members who are at risk of serious disease and therefore eligible will continue to be offered the vaccine as part of the NHS programme.
    • This includes:
      • people aged 75 or over
      • people aged 6 months to 74 years old who have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
      • residents in an older adult care home.
  • Staff members who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine will be able to get it at the community vaccination hub at Aintree Hospital.

 

I would like to know more, who can I speak to if I would like more information about the flu or COVID-19 vaccine?