Westbury Group Practice is encouraging its patients in risk groups to come forward to receive their flu vaccination as the winter months approach.
The inclusion of swine flu in this year’s vaccination has caused some media attention and confusion. However, everyone who is in the ‘at risk’ category is advised to come forward for the vaccination.
Patients who are in any of the risk groups, which include people over 65, pregnant women, carers, patients with diabetes or history of a stroke, and those with heart, kidney, respiratory or liver disease, can be vaccinated by dropping in at clinics held across the town in October and November.
Westbury Group Practice say, “Flu is a highly infectious and sometimes potentially serious illness. Each year a number of people in the UK will die as a result.
“The symptoms are very unpleasant, people may experience all or some of the following: a sudden onset of fever, chills, headache and aching muscles, a cough and sore throat simultaneously. Flu patients feel very unwell and need to spend several days in bed. As flu is a virus, it cannot be treated by antibiotics.
“This year’s flu jab contains several different strains of flu including swine flu. Those who have already been vaccinated against swine flu are safe to have this vaccination and need to receive it to benefit from the other strains of flu included in the jab.
“Patients at risk need to have a jab each year to maintain immunity as the flu jab is always changing.
“The influenza vaccine is prepared using virus strains in line with the World Health Organisation recommendations. This year’s seasonal influenza vaccination is trivalent, containing 2 sub-types of influenza A and 1 type B virus. One of the A sub-types will provide protection against swine flu. The vaccine will provide up to 80% protection against all influenza strains.”
Westbury Group Practice will be holding the following sessions, with no appointment necessary:
For Dilton Marsh patients:
Tuesday 12th October – 3.00pm – 5.00pm at
Fairfield Farm College, Dilton Marsh
For Bratton/Edington area patients:
Thursday 14th October – 10 am to 12 pm at
Jubilee Hall, Bratton
For all patients:
Saturday 6th November – 8.30am to 2.00pm at
Eastleigh Surgery, Westbury
