Flu symptoms
For most healthy people, flu is an unpleasant but fairly short-lived illness that includes symptoms such as:
- a high temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
- tiredness and weakness
- a headache
- general aches and pains
- a dry, chesty cough
For healthy people, recovery generally takes up to a week.
However, older people, the very young, pregnant women and those with a health condition are at particular risk from the more serious effects of flu.
The impact of flu on frail and vulnerable people can be very serious, and in some cases even fatal.
That's why it's so important that you, as a frontline or business critical worker, do all you can to protect you, your family, service users and essential services by getting vaccinated. This will help reduce the chance of germs being passed on.
Eligible staff
If you're one of our employees in a specified frontline health and social care role, or in one of a few defined business critical roles, then you're eligible for a flu vaccination. If you're in this category you'll have been provided with a letter to take to a pharmacy to obtain a free flu vaccination subject to the following statement.
If you're a member of staff who is eligible for a free flu vaccination via the national flu vaccination programme, either due to medical vulnerability or because you are aged over 50, you'll be contacted by your GP to arrange vaccination. You should obtain your vaccination via this route as a vaccine will have been ordered for you. Taking up this offer avoids wastage of vaccines and protects the availability of other supplies.