BOPDHB Patient Resources Hip and Knee joint replacement book - June 2016 | Page 80
General advice
Flu
Have you had your
flu vaccine?
Influenza spreads very easily and
up to 1 in 5 of us come in contact
with influenza every year.
At its worst, influenza can put you in hospital and can even be fatal.
In many cases, influenza can keep you in bed for a week or two,
and drain your energy keeping you from work, sport or just about
anything that requires leaving the house.
For adults with long-term health conditions and people aged 65
years and older, influenza can be a serious illness. For this reason
the influenza immunisation is provided FREE to these groups.
Don’t take the risk! Call your local general practice or medical clinic
to arrange a FREE vaccination if you are in any of the following
groups:
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regularly use an asthma preventer
have diabetes
have heart disease
have kidney problems
have cancer
have a serious medical condition
are aged 65 years or over
If you do not have one of these eligible conditions, you still benefit
from an influenza immunisation. available at a small cost. Flu
vaccines are administered free between the 1st March – 31st
August each year, beginning and start dates however can change.
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