Local MP Sheryll Murray went to the Westminster Flu Day event in Parliament last week to get her annual flu vaccine. She is reminding people, especially those who are at high risk, to make sure they have had their flu jab too.
Following the visit Sheryll said: “As a former doctor’s receptionist I have seen first-hand the damage flu can do. A flu jab is very important it can prevent a lot of suffering and pain.”
Who should have a flu vaccine?
- Over 65s
- Young children
- People with a Chronic liver disease
- Pregnant women
- People with a Chronic Respiratory disease
- People with a Neurological disease
- Health care workers
- People with Chronic Heart disease
- People with Diabetes
- Carers
- People with Chronic Kidney Disease
- Immunosuppression
Only clean water rivals vaccines at reducing infectious diseases and deaths. Immunisation has the potential to prevent 6 million deaths worldwide each year.
Costs associated with failure to effectively immunise include lost working days (around 6 million working days lost in the UK due to seasonal influenza every year) and expenditure on disability payments and social services. By promoting good health in children, vaccines help to increase cognitive skills, physical strength and performance at school.
Sheryll made a donation to charity to cover the cost of the vaccine.