{"id":54455,"date":"2021-12-03T15:28:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T15:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=54455"},"modified":"2021-12-08T15:31:18","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T15:31:18","slug":"over-50s-urged-to-have-free-flu-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/over-50s-urged-to-have-free-flu-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"Over 50s urged to have free flu vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UK Health Security Agency has warned that there could be a significant flu surge this winter, coinciding with continuing or rising COVID-19 cases.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is caused by colder weather, increased social contact indoors and expected lower natural immunity to flu because of lower levels in circulation last winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modelling by the Academy of Medical Sciences suggests that hospital admissions and deaths from flu this winter could be double that of a ‘normal’ year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People over 50 in Devon are being urged to take up their free NHS flu vaccine as soon as they’re invited to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The COVID-19 vaccine does not protect against flu, so it’s vital to have both the flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to reduce your chances of becoming unwell and needing hospital treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NHS Devon’s Primary Care Medical Director, Dr Alex\u00a0Degan, says:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Many of the measures we take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 also help to prevent people catching flu, including staying at home if you feel unwell, washing your hands regularly and covering your mouth and nose if you cough\u00a0or sneeze. <\/p>

\u201cThe best way to avoid catching and spreading flu is by having the vaccination before the flu season starts.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Visit the NHS website to find a pharmacy near you offering the flu vaccine.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":54298,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[106],"tags":[293],"class_list":["post-54455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adult-social-care","tag-coronavirus"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":54298,"title":"Boost your immunity this winter with the flu vaccine","alt":"people sat on a bus wearing face 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