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Over 50s
Flu jabs and immunisation
As you get older, you might find an illness like flu harder to shake off. You can protect yourself by taking advantage of free immunisation schemes, offered by the NHS, for flu and other highly infectious diseases.
Flu symptoms
Influenza, or flu, is an acute viral infection of the ears, nose and throat, otherwise known as your respiratory system.
At first you might feel like you've caught a cold, but if you've got flu you're likely to develop the following symptoms:
- a fever, with a high temperature (generally above 38°C/100°F)
- a chill
- a severe headache
- muscle aches and pains
- a sense of feeling weak and tired
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- chest pain
- loss of appetite
Should you have the flu jab?
The point of immunisation is to protect you if you're likely to develop a more serious illness as a result of catching the flu. You're more at risk if:
- you have an underlying medical condition
- you're 65 or over
- you live in an enclosed environment like a residential care home
Free flu jabs
Each autumn, from September, an annual flu vaccine is provided free to all those aged over 65 and all those over six months in the following clinical risk groups:
- serious heart disease
- serious lung disease, like emphysema, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis or asthma
- serious kidney disease
- a long-term health problem, like diabetes
- if you have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- a weak immune system – for example, from chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for cancer, steroid treatment or HIV/Aids
Your GP may also advise you to have a flu jab if you have a serious liver disease, Multiple Sclerosis or other degenerative disease of the central nervous system.
If you live or work in a nursing or care home or similar long-term residential accommodation, your employer may offer you the option of having the flu jab.
How a vaccine works
A vaccine is a tiny dose of the same germ that causes the illness. It does not give you that illness. Instead it stimulates your body to make antibodies that fight the flu germ. Once you're immunised your body is ready to attack if the flu germ begins to invade your body.
Pneumococcal disease and pneumo jab
The pneumococcus is a germ that affects the lungs or the bloodstream. It's spread by coughing, sneezing or touching. The diseases it can cause include:
- inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia)
- blood poisoning (septicaemia)
- inflammation around the brain (meningitis)
- inflammation around the abdomen (bronchitis or peritonitis)
Everyone's vulnerable, but you're more at risk:
- if you're over 65, with a sharp rise for over 75s
- if you have certain medical conditions of the heart, liver and lung, diabetes, no spleen or a weakened immune system
Free immunisation
Immunisation against pneumococcal disease is usually required once only, unless you have a spleen or kidney condition. You are entitled to free pneumo jab if you are:
- 65 or older
- children under five with a past history of pneumococcal disease, like meningitis
You will also be offered a free jab if you have:
- severe breathing problems
- serious heart disease
- severe kidney disease
- long-term liver disease
- diabetes that involves you taking insulin or tablets
- an immune system weakened by illness or treatment – for example, if you're on chemotherapy or radiotherapy or steroid treatment, or have HIV/Aids or have had your spleen removed
More information is on the NHS Immunisation website.
You can also download the leaflet 'Immunisation against Infectious Diseases’ (The Green Book) from the Department of Health website.
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