This year, for the first time, all pregnant women will be offered the seasonal flu vaccination.  This is because in addition to protecting against other circulating flu strains, it also protects against the H1N1 virus (swine flu) that will still be circulating this winter.

Pregnant women who catch this strain of flu remain at an increased risk of severe disease and hospital admission as a result of flu related complications.

Everyone aged 65 and over is routinely offered the jab, as are younger people with long-term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, multiple sclerosis, serious kidney and liver disease.  

If you are the main carer of an older or disabled person you may also be eligible for the flu vaccine, ask your GP or practice for advice.

Around 15 million people in the UK have the jab, which must be administered every year as it is altered to match the flu strains in circulation. 

Dr John Radford, Director of Public Health at NHS Rotherham, said: “Flu is much more serious than a cold and anyone who has had flu will tell you, it’s not very pleasant. 

"Flu gives you fevers, chills, extreme fatigue and aching muscles, as well as the more cold-like symptoms of a sore throat and runny nose, and tends to last for up to two weeks.  

"Whilst flu is a nasty experience for all of us, for those at risk it can lead to more serious illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia which may require hospitalisation.

“Many people already receive a flu vaccination every year through their family doctor. If you’re one of the people that have already been invited to have a vaccination, it’s well worth taking up the offer.”

The best way to avoid flu is to get immunised, but in addition, people can protect themselves by practising good hand hygiene with the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ technique. This means carrying tissues, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use, and cleaning hands as soon as possible with soap and water or an alcohol hand rub. 

Health and social care workers in Rotherham are being made aware of the importance of having the flu vaccine. By having the jab health and social care workers will be protecting themselves, their families and their patients/clients against the flu.

Every year there are approximately 8,000 seasonal flu-related deaths in the winter months in England and Wales - deaths which are avoidable.