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60 Queensway, Hayle. Cornwall. TR27 4PB. Tel: 01736 753136
17 September 2014
«Title» «Firstname» «Surname»
«Address1»
«Address2»
«Address3»
«Address4»
«Address5»
«Address6»
Dear «Title» «Surname»
Immunisation against Flu
Due to your medical history you are in the “at risk” group and we strongly advise that you have the flu
vaccine. Please see patient information attached. You are invited to attend on Saturday 12 October
or Saturday 19 October between 8.30am and 2.30pm (no appointment necessary). If these dates are
not suitable for you, we hold clinics from 8am to 6pm as well as early morning and evening
appointments from 7am and after 6.30pm.
Please wear loose sleeves to avoid having to undress.
It is not advisable to have a flu injection if you are feeling unwell or have a high temperature. Patients
undergoing chemotherapy should seek advice from the nurse or doctor before having the flu
vaccination.
If you are housebound and require a District Nurse to call please let us know on 01736 753136.
Please bear in mind that the District Nurses provide this service in addition to their usual duties
with no extra time allocated so it may take some time before they can visit you to administer your
flu vaccination. If you can manage to attend the surgery, you will be protected against influenza
without delay.
Yours sincerely
Dr J Slater & Partners
Please help us to up date our records. Name: «Title» «Firstname» «Surname»
Do you smoke?
YES
NO
NEVER EX-SMOKER
please circle as appropriate.
Smoking is bad for your health and we strongly advise against smoking. For advice to help you
quit please ask at reception about the stop smoking service.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you do not wish to have the flu vaccination, please let us know or sign and return the slip below.
I, «Title» «Firstname» «Surname», wish to decline the offer of a flu vaccination.
Signed: ………………………………
Dated: …………
PLEASE BRING THIS LETTER WITH YOU TO THE FLU CLINIC
Protect yourself against flu this winter
How can flu affect you?
Flu occurs every year, usually in winter, which is why it’s sometimes called seasonal flu. It’s highly infectious,
with symptoms that come on very quickly. A bad bout of flu is 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. The symptoms are usually quite mild, but can be very serious. Healthy people usually recover in
two to seven days, but the disease can lead to hospitalisation, disability or even death. As well as making you more
vulnerable to flu, your existing condition can be made worse if you do get flu.
What causes flu?
Flu is caused by viruses that infect the windpipe and lungs. And because it’s caused by viruses and not bacteria,
antibiotics won’t treat it.
How do you catch flu? Can you avoid it?
When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they spread the virus in tiny droplets. These can then be breathed in
by other people or picked up by touching surfaces. 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 to reduce the risk of picking up the
virus.
But the best way to avoid catching and spreading flu is by having the vaccination before the flu season starts.
Who should have a flu vaccination?
Free vaccination is available to people of any age who have certain existing medical conditions, because they are
particularly vulnerable to flu. More specifically, you should come for vaccination if you have:
•
a heart problem
•
a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including severe asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema
•
kidney or liver disease
•
lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)
•
had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
•
diabetes
•
a neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s
•
a problem with your spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed
•
a learning disability
If you are unsure whether you should have the vaccination because of your medical condition, please ask.
What about children and young people?
If you have children who are are over six months of age and have any of the conditions set out above, please bring
them to the surgery for vaccination. The vaccine can be given at the same time as all routine childhood vaccines.
Is there anyone who shouldn’t have the vaccination?
Almost everybody can have the vaccine, but you should not be vaccinated if you have had a serious allergy to the
vaccine, or any of its ingredients, in the past. If you are allergic to hen’s eggs or have a condition that weakens
your immune system, you may not be able to have certain types of flu vaccine – check with us first. If you have a
fever, the vaccination may be delayed until you are better.
How does the vaccine work and will I get any side-effects?
The vaccine works by stimulating your immune system, so it can recognise and fight off the flu virus if you come
into contact with it later. When the vaccine is well-matched to virus strains, around three-quarters of those
vaccinated are likely to be protected. The rest may have some protection that reduces the severity of symptoms.
There are some fairly common but mild side-effects. Your arm may feel a bit sore where you were injected, and
some people get a slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards. The vaccine doesn’t
give you even a mild dose of flu, as it doesn’t contain the active virus. Any other reactions are very rare.
You should have it even if you have already had flu or had the vaccination last year, as there are different types of
the virus.