NHS24 - Health Information and Self Care Advice for Scotland

What can I do to avoid catching seasonal flu?

The NHS 24 Flu Zone is a useful resource which contains frequently asked questions about flu, as well as links to pertinent paths in the Self Help Guide, relevant Health A-Z articles on NHS inform and links to further information.

Seasonal flu (also known as influenza) is a highly infectious illness caused by a flu virus. It can infect your lungs and upper airways, causing a high temperature as well as aches and pains.

Seasonal flu is a very common illness that occurs every year, usually during the winter months.

Flu Questions

General

What can I do to avoid catching seasonal flu?

What should I do if I think I have been exposed to the flu?

How do I know if I have seasonal flu and not just a cold / what are the symptoms?

How do I know if I need or am eligible for a seasonal flu jab?

How many people get seasonal flu each year?

How many people die each year from flu?

Is a virus usually deadlier when it comes back? Is this the case with H1N1? Is it likely to be mutated?

How quickly can flu spread?

 

Vaccinations

Will the seasonal flu vaccine make me ill?

Is seasonal flu just a really bad cold / is the vaccine worth it?

How effective is the seasonal flu vaccine?

Do I just need to have the vaccination every year?

Does the seasonal flu vaccine protect me against swine flu - H1N1 (2009) virus?

Does the seasonal flu vaccine contain old stocks of the swine flu vaccine?

Is the H1N1 (2009) swine flu vaccine still available?

Should children be given the seasonal flu vaccine?

Is there anyone who shouldn't have the seasonal flu vaccination? 

How long does it take for the vaccine to work?

How many doses will I need?/ will I need the swine flu vaccine as well?

Is vaccination compulsory?

What strains of flu does the vaccine protect against?

Why is the seasonal flu vaccination being offered to pregnant women?

If I go to my GP to get the seasonal flu vaccine won’t I just be exposing myself to other viruses in the waiting room?

Old people weren't a key risk group for swine flu - are they getting the jab this flu season?

Why aren't you vaccinating healthy children when they needed to be vaccinated in the pandemic?

Why isn’t the seasonal flu vaccination being offered to all under 5s this year as the swine flu virus is still circulating?

Can the seasonal flu vaccine be given at the same time as other vaccines?

Does the flu vaccine contain thiomersal/mercury?

 

Leaflets

Where can I get copies of the leaflets and posters regarding this year's seasonal flu campaign?

Are these leaflets available in multiple languages?