Flu jabs: Should you have one?

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As the temperature drops, the prospect of being laid low by a bout of flu increases. And yet most of us can prevent this happening simply by getting a flu jab.

The government has issued a warning saying that 'millions more' people need to be vaccinated to avoid serious health problems. There are fears that a severe form of flu is coming our way from Australia, but experts think say that this year's flu jab should cover it.

So what is the truth about flu jabs? Why should we have one? Do they really work? We talked to Penny Beck, Superintendent Pharmacist from Tesco, to get expert advice.

Why should people have the flu jab?

Most people don't realise how dangerous the flu can be. It's so easy for people who have suffered a mild dose to pass it on to someone else who's more vulnerable, like a baby or an elderly relative.

Who's most at risk of the flu?

People who have a long-term condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, kidney disease and everyone over the age of 65.

All these people should get a free vaccine on the NHS, but some ignore the letter from their doctor and for others it's just not convenient to get to their local surgery.

Isn't the flu just a bad cold?

For some people yes, but many people can't get out of bed at all. It can last anything from a few days to a couple of weeks, if you're hit badly.

Does the jab really work?

Yes it does. The jab is changed every year to match the flu strains in circulation, so you need to be vaccinated every 12 months. There are 3 new strains this year that the jab will protect against and it should be 70-80% successful.

Don't you get flu symptoms after the jab?

Definitely not. That's an old wives' tale. It's not a live vaccine, so if you get cold symptoms then the infection will have been in your body before the jab. The vaccine takes around 7-10 days to actually build up resistance in your body.

How do you get the jab if you're not in the vulnerable groups?

Tesco are offering flu jabs 7 days a week at their nearest Tesco Pharmacy for just £10. Even if you're not vulnerable, it's important to think about how many people you come into contact with who could be more at risk.