Influenza is a highly infectious disease that occurs every year, usually in the winter. Symptoms can come on very quickly and include fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness.
Infected health and social care workers can spread flu to people receiving care and colleagues even if they have very mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all.
The flu vaccine provides the best protection available against the virus.
- The vaccines are given in the autumn ideally before flu starts circulating.
- The vaccine contains no live viruses, so it can’t give you flu.
- You have to be immunised every year because the virus changes constantly and your immunity reduces over time.
- Influenza is a different virus from Covid-19.
The best way for social care staff to avoid flu is to get a flu jab as part of this programme.
We encourage staff to take up this opportunity.  It’s quick, safe and free.
Find out more on the NHS Inform website: https://www.nhsinform.scot/flu
flu-campaign-leaflet-for-social-care-workers-2020Link to leaflet:Â http://www.healthscotland.scot/media/3171/flu-campaign-leaflet-for-social-care-workers-2020.pdf
Last Updated on 24th November 2020 by Shanice