Barnsley CCG along with other NHS organisations and Barnsley Council will be supporting this year’s Stay Well This Winter Campaign, of which the first phase is flu immunisation.

Flu occurs every year, usually in the winter. It is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on quickly. A bad bout of flu can be much worse than a heavy cold.  The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles and extreme tiredness. Healthy individuals usually recover within two to seven days, but for some the disease can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability and even death.

Flu is caused by the influenza viruses and is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes they spread the virus in tiny droplets of saliva over a wide area.  These droplets can then be breathed in by other people or they can be picked up by touching surfaces where the droplets have landed.

You can prevent the spread of the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and you can wash your hands frequently or use hand gels to reduce the risk of picking up the virus.

But the best way to avoid catching and spreading the flu is by having the vaccination before the flu season starts.

Barnsley parents of children aged two and three years old and adults with underlying health conditions are urged to make sure they take up the offer of the free vaccine - these groups are at particular risk from flu and vaccination is still the best protection we have against this unpredictable virus.

For most children, the flu vaccine is not an injection, just a quick and easy nasal spray.

Children aged two and three (on 31 August 2019) receive the vaccine through their GP and all primary school-aged children are offered it in school.

Cllr Jim Andrews, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health, said:  “Flu can be serious and even deadly for older adults, very young children, and people with underlying health conditions.

“If you have a child who is of the eligible age, make sure you sign the consent form allowing them to have the flu vaccine at school. If you are eligible for the flu vaccine, get it now – it’s free because you need it. Contact your general practice or pharmacist to get it.”

Visit www.nhs.uk/fluvaccine for more information