Flu Vaccinations

Flu (or influenza) is an acute and highly contagious respiratory infection that infects the nose and throat, as well as the lungs, causing mild to severe symptoms that can be life-threatening in some circumstances.

Symptoms of flu may at first present in much the same way as a common cold, including a runny nose, sore throat and sneezing. However, while colds typically develop quite slowly, flu symptoms tend to emerge suddenly and make you feel worse than with a cold.

Flu symptoms include fever, aching muscles, sore throat, runny nose, eye pain, tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath, headache, a dry and persistent cough, headache and chills and sweats.

Most people who come down with the flu will get better on their own but occasionally complications arise that can be deadly. 

The most at-risk groups of people at risk of developing these complications include children under the age of two, adults over the age of 65, those in long-term care facilities, who are pregnant, who are immunocompromised, who have a body mass index of 40 or higher and those with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease and kidney disease.

The most effective way of preventing severe complications is to have the flu vaccine, which is available here at Newdays Pharmacy.

Note, however, that it’s also important to control the spread of infection as the vaccine isn’t 100% effective. Measures to reduce the spread include regular handwashing, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, cleaning surfaces regularly and avoiding touching your face.