Flu Vaccination
About the vaccine
The Influenza (commonly known as flu) vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. The best time to get vaccinated is before the start of the flu season, ideally between early October and late November for adults.
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There's still a chance you might get flu after getting vaccinated, but it's likely to be milder and not last as long. The vaccine usually takes up to 14 days to work. Protection from the flu vaccine goes down with time and the types of flu virus the vaccine protects against are updated each year. This is why it's important to get the flu vaccine every year.
What is flu? ​​​​
Flu is a common infectious viral illness. You can catch flu all year round, but it’s especially common in winter. This is why it’s also known as seasonal flu.​ You can catch flu many times because flu viruses change regularly. Your body won’t have a natural resistance to the new versions.​​
Symptoms
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
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a sudden high temperature
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an aching body
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feeling tired or exhausted
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a dry cough
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a sore throat
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a headache
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difficulty sleeping
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loss of appetite
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diarrhoea or stomach pain
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feeling sick and being sick​
​​Healthy individuals usually recover within 2 to 7 days, but for some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death. Flu vaccines help protect against the main types of flu virus circulating.
​​​​Other details
The flu virus is notorious for its ability to spread rapidly and has the potential to trigger seasonal epidemics. Anyone can be affected, but there are certain groups that are more vulnerable, therefore at higher risk of contracting a more severe illness if they catch the flu. A secondary infection such as pneumonia can expose certain groups of people to becoming seriously ill, requiring hospitalisation. Having flu makes you more likely to get pneumonia. So, if you have the flu vaccine, it may also reduce your chance of getting pneumonia.