Common side effects
Most people have few or no side-effects from vaccination. Common side effects include:
- Redness, swelling, pain, bruising, itchiness and hardness at the injection site
- Slight temperature, headache, muscle & joint pain
Paracetamol usually helps. If side-effects continue for more than 2 days, tell your doctor. Some people may be allergic to vaccines and have an immediate or long term reaction, and very rarely, serious reactions. If you have a serious rapid allergic reaction to vaccination, your Pharmacist may need to give you an adrenaline injection. This is very unlikely.
You need to complete a form before vaccination. This is to check flu vaccine is suitable for you. You should include any allergies or previous reactions to vaccines on the form.
Sometimes your Pharmacist will not be able to provide the flu vaccine. If this happens, you may be advised to see your doctor or surgery nurse.
Free Vaccination On The NHS
Some people at ‘high risk’ from the flu are vulnerable to complications from infection. They qualify for free vaccination on the NHS.
This includes people 65 years and over, people with heart or lung conditions, including some people with asthma, people with some serious kidney and liver disease, diabetics and some people caring for or working with vulnerable people, and others.
If you are not sure if you can have vaccination through the NHS, ask your doctor or surgery nurse.
Protect yourself and others against flu by:
- coughing or sneezing into a tissue
- throwing a used tissue away as soon as possible
- washing your hands as soon as possible
- having a flu jab every year particularly if you’re in an at-risk group
Further information can be found at the NHS Choices
website: www.nhs.uk/livewell/winterhealth/pages/fluandthefluvaccine.aspx