Member Article

Add a flu jab to your 'to do' list today

With the return to workplaces, adding a flu jab to your ‘to do’ list is “imperative” according to Nicola Goodberry, superintendent pharmacist with independent pharmacy chain, Weldricks.

“With many people working from home last flu season due to the UK’s various lockdown measures, cases of influenza were, thankfully, relatively low. However, the recent gradual return to ‘normality’ could signal a rise in the spread of the flu virus as we head into the winter months,” outlines Nicola.

Continues Nicola: “Protecting yourself and your loved ones by getting a flu jab is still the only way to potentially prevent contracting flu this winter or over the festive period.

“Flu is extremely contagious. It is spread easily via droplets in the air from coughs and sneezes, plus, the flu virus itself can live for up to 24 hours on hard surfaces. Symptoms can develop quickly and include high fever, aching muscles, shivers and extreme lethargy.

“There is an incubation period as the vaccine gets into your system, so the sooner you’re vaccinated the better. That’s one of the reasons we’re now inviting people to book an appointment to receive their quadrivalent influenza vaccine as part of our annual flu jab service.”

Adds Nicola: “We’re working hard to ensure we can protect as many people as possible which is why it’s imperative to arrange an appointment at your earliest convenience. You can arrange a date & time for your flu jab by popping into your local Weldricks pharmacy.

“We also have the capability to set up an on-site vaccination programme for any business in South Yorkshire or the Humber whereby our highly qualified pharmacists administer the quad influenza vaccine to employees aged over 18. We can facilitate a flu jab clinic at any workplace, or we can issue vouchers for staff to redeem at one of our many vaccination sites across the region; whatever works best.”

Concludes Nicola: “I must also highlight that there are groups of people deemed ‘at risk’ from flu. These include anyone aged 50 or over, individuals with chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma, chronic heart, liver, kidney or neurological disease, diabetes, low immunity, pregnant women and carers. If you fit in this group, you can get a flu jab, free of charge on the NHS at any of our participating local pharmacies across Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the Humber. Appointments are available now so book your flu jab today, get protected and don’t let flu ruin your winter.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kirsten Howells .