Islanders reminded to have the Flu jab

14 January 2009

People in Jersey who are at risk from influenza, more commonly known as flu, are being reminded to be vaccinated against the virus if they haven’t already been vaccinated this season.

Influenza causes serious respiratory infection and people with chronic lung, cardiac, liver and kidney disease; diabetics on medication; immunosuppressed patients and those aged 65 years and over are most at risk. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends people in these groups receive an annual flu vaccine to reduce their rates of influenza driven pneumonia, hospital admission and mortality.

The Health and Social Services department has issued the reminder following higher than average levels of cold and flu like viruses as well as true influenza in the period leading up to Christmas. The cases of influenza recorded are increasing but remain below epidemic levels.

Dr Ivan Muscat, Consultant Microbiologist said: “All respiratory viruses are spread by direct and indirect contact as well as by the air borne route. It is important to observe both good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene, such as using tissues when sneezing or coughing and disposing of them correctly to reduce the spread of infection. Influenza vaccination provides additional specific protection against the flu for those at risk.”

Flu vaccines provide between 70% and 80% protection against matched circulating strains of the virus. Flu vaccines cannot cause influenza because an inactivated virus is used. The virus used in the flu jab is grown in eggs so people with a severe egg allergy should not be immunised.

Dr Muscat said: “Millions of doses of flu vaccine have been given over the years. It is clear that the vaccine is safe. Between 1 in 10 and 1 in a 100 patients note some mild redness at the site of injection or a slight temperature. The risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an acute disease of the peripheral nervous system, is 1 in 1 to 2 million but no established link has been confirmed. It is therefore prudent to remind those at risk to be vaccinated given current activity.”

The WHO and more than 50 developed countries, including Jersey and the UK, recommend annual vaccination ahead of the flu season as a matter of routine. This policy was first adopted in the UK in 1960 and was extended in 2000 to include those 65 and over.