Is it too late to get a flu vaccination?
As you'll have read in the news lately, there has been an increased number of flu cases in Scotland this winter. The good news is that there is still time to get a vaccination.
Analysis shows that so far in Scotland these is a mixture of the “standard” seasonal influenza strain and also the now-labelled “Australian Flu” strain.
Australia had almost 250,000 cases of flu in 2017, with a high number of fatalities. Australian flu is of particular danger to the elderly and pregnant as well as those with other health conditions, e.g. asthma and COPD.
Getting a flu vaccination now will significantly reduce your own personal risk of flu as well as contribute to the protection of the population in Scotland more generally. For those who may still succumb to flu, there is also evidence that vaccination shortens both the duration and severity of the illness.
It's reassuring to know that flu vaccination is a “dead” vaccine and there is therefore no risk of catching flu as a result of it.
As I am sure you will be aware this winter, influenza is putting a considerable strain on the already struggling hospitals and GPs in Scotland. It's not too late to get a vaccination - I would encourage you to take the opportunity to protect yourself and your families from flu.
City Health Clinic have limited stocks of quadrivalent vaccine available for existing as well as new patients.