Get your free flu jab

That familiar chill in the air acts as a reminder to all carers that it is time, once again, to get your FREE flu jab.

While flu causes mild illness in most people, some people can develop potentially serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia. The flu vaccine helps protect family, friends and the people you care for who may be vulnerable.

This winter, with COVID-19 in circulation, it’s more important than ever that you get vaccinated to protect you, and the person you care for, from flu.

Many more people are eligible this year as the programme has been expanded.

Groups eligible to receive a free flu jab include:

• carers
• everyone aged 65 years or over
• women who are pregnant
• those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups including patients who suffer from a chronic illness, such as COPD, kidney disease, hepatitis, Parkinsons, HIV and diabetes
• children aged two or three years old on 31 August 2020 
• all primary school-aged children 
• children with a health condition that puts them at a greater risk of flu
• those in long-stay residential care homes
• all frontline health and social care workers 

This year eligibility has been expanded to include:

• year 7 secondary school-aged children 
• household members of those who may have been shielding
• later in the year the age range will extend to those aged 50-64

For more information about eligibility visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

For more information Cumbria's flu vaccination programme visit the county council's website at cumbria.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing/fluvaccine.asp.