General

• Flu can be very serious. It can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia which may need treatment in hospital.
• Annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu.
• The best way to avoid flu is to get vaccinated.
• Flu spreads easily
• Flu can kill. Protect yourself and others
• Check if you are eligible for a free for a free flu vaccine

Groups

• Flu is more likely to be serious if you have a long-term health condition, are pregnant, or are aged 65 or older.
• Flu viruses are constantly changing. Each year the vaccine is changed to match the flu viruses likely to be circulating.
• Flu vaccine is the single best way to protect against catching and spreading flu.
• If you are in a group at increased risk of becoming very ill if you catch flu you should have a flu vaccination every year. 
• Flu vaccines are quick and safe, and could prevent weeks of serious illness.
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Pregnancy

• If you are pregnant, having a flu vaccine will help protect you and your unborn baby.
• Flu can be very serious in pregnancy.
• Flu can be serious for you and your baby.  A flu vaccine will help protect you both.
• If a pregnant woman gets flu, her baby is more likely to be born early, with a low birth weight, or be stillborn or die within their first week.
• The vaccine also helps protect the baby in the first 4-6 months of life when flu can be very serious.
• Flu can be very serious for babies, and if you have the flu vaccine while you are pregnant it will also protect your baby for up to six months after he or she is born
• Pregnancy puts extra stress on your body, which can increase your risk of becoming very ill with flu.
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Children

• Flu can be very serious. Protect your two* or three-year old with a simple nasal spray flu vaccine.
• Flu can be very serious.  This autumn, all primary school children from reception class to school year 6 will be offered a simple nasal spray vaccine in school.
• All children in primary school are routinely offered annual flu vaccine in school.
• All children aged 2 or 3 years old (on 31 August 2019) are offered annual flu vaccine at their GP surgery.
• Children from six months of age with any of the health conditions listed above should have a flu vaccine every year.
• The nasal spray flu vaccine is recommended for children aged 2-17 years of age. Children under the age of 2 years in a group at increased risk of becoming very ill with flu will be offered a flu vaccine injection.

Carers

• Flu can kill. Protect yourself and those you care for.
• Flu spreads very easily in care homes and can be very serious for some people. That’s why flu vaccine is now free in Wales for care home staff with client contact.
• Having your vaccine not only protects you from catching flu, it also protects you from spreading it to people around you, who may be vulnerable to flu and its complications
• If you are a carer for someone whose health would be at risk if you became ill with flu, you should have a free flu vaccine from your GP surgery or community pharmacy.

Health and social care workers

• Flu can kill. Protect yourself and those you care for.
• Flu spreads easily. Annual vaccination is the best way to protect against catching or spreading it.
• Having your flu vaccine not only protects you from catching flu, it also protects you from spreading it to people around you who may be vulnerable to flu and its complications
• If you are a health or social care worker and have direct contact with patients or clients, you should have a flu vaccination to protect you and the people you care for.
• If you work in an adult care home or in a children’s hospice, you can now have a free NHS flu vaccination. This is to protect you and the people you care for. 
• If you are a member of a voluntary organisation providing planned first aid or if you are a community first responder you should also have a flu vaccination.

How will I know if I have flu?

• When people get flu they tend to become ill quite quickly. Symptoms can include fever, chills, headaches and aching muscles, often with a cough and sore throat. 
• Other people have flu without even realising it - and they can still spread it to others, sometimes with devastating effects.

What should I do if I get flu?

• If you think you might have flu it is important to rest at home, keep warm and drink plenty of water. You can take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower a high temperature and relieve aches if necessary.
• To help stop flu spreading, remember to:
  • Catch it – use a tissue when you sneeze or cough
  • Bin it – put the tissue into the bin as soon as possible
  • Kill it by washing your hands or use hand sanitizer