Additional Information
At Church Pharmacy, we can offer the free NHS flu jab to adults aged 65 and over, or adults aged 18 and over who have certain medical conditions or who fall into other eligible NHS groups such as carers. If you’re aged 65 and over, with a medical condition or pregnant, catching flu can be more serious and that’s why the NHS offer a free jab.
The best way to help protect yourself and others from catching and spreading flu is to have the flu jab every year. Flu strains can change from year to year, which means last year’s jab may not protect you from this year’s strains. Over time, protection from the flu jab gradually decreases, so this is another reason to keep up to date and get your flu jab every year.
No vaccine is 100 percent effective but being vaccinated helps protect you against the strains of flu virus contained in the vaccination. This includes swine flu. After your jab, it usually takes around 14-21 days to be protected against flu.
At your appointment, one of our pharmacists will inject the vaccine into your upper arm. As with all medicines, there may be some side effects. The most common side effects include:
- Redness, soreness or bruising at the injection site
- A high temperature, sweating, shivering or feeling unwell
- Headaches, fatigue or dizziness
- Muscle and joint pain
If you experience any of these, don’t worry, they’re usually mild and should disappear on their own in a day or two.