Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine

The Flu is not fun to experience.  You can experience all sorts of symptoms that may even be similar to COVID symptoms.  You should have the flu vaccine to decrease the chances of any severe symptoms.  The seasonal flu vaccine is available at Pearl Chemist Group vaccine clinic in Earlsfield.

What is the flu?
The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus that infects the throat, nose and can sometimes infect the lungs.  Often, it is a mild illness, but it can sometimes be severe and even lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine which is released each year.

What is the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is usually available each year from about September or October.  This season (2021-2022) there are three different types of inactivated flu vaccine that are offered in the UK, as well as the nasal vaccine, which is a live attenuated vaccine.

Each vaccine includes egg proteins because the virus is often grown on hen’s eggs.  This is why you should not have the vaccine if you are allergic to eggs.  You can ask for an alternative if so.

Also, they contain small amounts of:

  • Sodium and potassium salts (used as acidity regulators)
  • Polysorbate (used as a binder, to hold ingredients together)
  • Antibiotics (used to stop growth of bacteria and contaminating vaccine)
  • Formaldehyde, which is an organic compound used to inactivate (kill) the virus

How does the flu vaccine work?
It works by triggering your immune system to build antibodies against the latest strain of the flu.

How can the flu vaccine help me?
Having the vaccine is important because the flu is unpredictable and whilst flu vaccine effectiveness can vary, it does provide the best protection against severe illness from it.  The flu isn’t just like a “bad cold”.  In the worst cases, the flu can lead to bronchitis, pneumonia, hospital stays, or even death.

Pearl Chemist Group has the flu vaccine available for those who should vaccinate. The flu vaccine is recommended for those who are vulnerable, aged 65+, have pre-existing conditions, are a carer, a front line worker, in health care, are pregnant, or live in a residential care home. You should visit us online today to book your flu vaccination in Earlsfield.