The end of summer may bring a bit of relief to some older and less healthy people, as there will not be any more searing heatwaves to worry about in the next few months. But autumn and winter will bring their own challenges, one of the most significant being flu.
Every winter flu season is different because influenza is a virus that changes rapidly. Each virus has a nucleus and protein spikes and while the former tends not to change much, the latter is subject to frequent mutations and variations.
This means that any previous vaccination you might have had is unlikely to have much benefit this time round, because the dominant viruses likely to circulate through flu season will be so different to last year that your immune memory won’t recognise them.
For many people, getting the flu jab will not be an important decision. Yes, catching the virus might be unpleasant and mean time off school or work, but it may be no worse than a heavy cold and will not be life-threatening.
Who Needs To Get The Flu Vaccine?
Some years bring a more potent dominant strain than others, with variations in mortality and hospital admissions. However, if you are in a vulnerable group, it is always better to take the safe option and protect your health.
People who should get the jab include:
- Those who are 65 or over
- Those aged 18 to 64 who have significant health conditions (your GP can advise on this)
- Those who are pregnant
- Those living in care homes
- Those who are the main carer for a disabled person or receive the carer’s allowance.
- Those living with someone who has a weakened immune system
- Those who are homeless or living in a shelter
This is in addition to frontline health care workers such as doctors and nurses.
There is also a flu vaccine for children, which covers youngsters aged over two or who are aged up to 17.
At the same time, the majority of people are not recommended to get it, so if you are in any doubt, see your GP for advice.
Why Does Flu Pose More Risk To Some People Than Others?
Historically, very few strains of flu have posed a major threat to the wider population. Exceptions would include the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-20, which is estimated to have killed anything between 50 and 100 million people.
The reason that strain was so deadly was that, unlike most strains of flu that pose the greatest risk to the very young, very old and the sick, it posed a particular risk to people with strong immune systems in their 20s and 30s.
In these cases, the healthy immune systems worked against those in the prime of their lives by generating an excessive reaction, known as a cytokine storm, with millions suffocating due to having fluid-filled lungs.
Despite some concerns over swine flu in 2009 and possible mutations of avian flu in recent years, which have decimated some bird populations, nothing anywhere near as severe has happened since and each year’s human flu season varies in severity.
Nonetheless, there are some categories of people whose health situation means that it is still important to get the jab, even if the dominant strain is relatively mild. If you are among them, you can get vaccinated here.