Flu season is upon us (Picture: Getty)
With the clocks having gone back and winter nights drawing in, it’s almost that time of year.
No, not Christmas. Flu season.
Flu, or the influenza virus, is spread through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Picked up from direct contact or traces on surfaces, the flu can spread quickly and prove debilitating, leaving people with a fever, chills, aches and extreme tiredness.
A winter ‘twindemic’ of Covid and the flu has been warned, with officials urging people to get the flu jab to help limit the spread of the flu.
But do you need a new flu jab if you had one last winter?
Do you need a flu jab each year?
If you had a flu jab last winter, you’ll need another one this year.
Flu vaccines get updated each year to give protection against the different strains of flu that are most likely to be going around.
The flu jab is available to buy or free to select groups on the NHS (Picture: Getty)
The flu jab is, of course, optional. But it’s always highly recommended, especially to certain groups.
For example, pregnant people are advised to get the flu jab to protect against particularly harmful effects of catching the flu. Other groups of people who benefit from getting the flu vaccine include those:
with a heart problemwith a chest complaint or serious breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or some people with asthmawith lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)who have had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)with diabeteswho are seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above)who are 65 or over
Why do we need flu jabs every year?
The influenza virus, like any virus, contains a set of genes that are wrapped in a coat of protein.
Vaccines typically stimulate the production of antibodies that attach to outer structures on the protein coat, disabling the virus.
Because these outer structures are constantly changing, a new vaccine is needed each year to target them.
The protein ‘coat’ of the influenza virus mutates each year (Picture: Getty)
How long does the flu jab last?
There’s no quantifiable duration for the efficacy of a flu jab, but most sources agree that you’re protected for around six months.
This means that you’re most protected for the winter months, when you’re most at risk, and it’ll start to wane as the seasons change to spring and summer.
The vaccine also takes around 10 days to work, so the best time to get it is in late autumn/early winter to ensure you’re jabbed for peak flu season.
Cheap flu jabs are available at places including Boots and supermarkets, and you may be entitled to a free one through the NHS.
People over 50 can book a free flu jab, as can younger people with certain health conditions, with further details about eligibility and how to book online.
MORE : When does winter officially start in the UK and when is the shortest day of the year?
MORE : Heading back to the office? Nine expert tips to support your immunity and protect yourself from flu
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Experts expect this year’s flu wave to be bigger and hit earlier than usual
