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Who has the flu jab?
It is now more important than ever to get yourself
vaccinated if you come into one of the groups listed
below. If your not sure you can always ask advice from
the nurse or doctor.
National policy: the target groups
National policy for 2006/07 is that influenza immunisation should be offered to:
- (i) All those aged 65 years and over;
- (ii) All those aged over 6 months in the following
clinical risk groups:
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Clinical risk category
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Examples (decision based on clinical
judgement) |
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Chronic respiratory disease,
including asthma |
This includes chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic
bronchitis and emphysema; and such conditions as
bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung
fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary
dysplasia (BPD). Asthma requiring continuous or
repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with
previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission.
Children who have previously been admitted to
hospital for lower respiratory tract disease should
be offered vaccination. |
|
Chronic heart disease
|
This includes congenital heart
disease, hypertension with cardiac complications,
chronic heart failure and individuals requiring
regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic
heart disease, |
|
Chronic renal disease |
Including
nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure, renal
transplantation. |
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Diabetes |
Diabetes mellitus
requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs.
|
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Immunosuppression |
Due to disease or
treatment. Including asplenia or splenic
dysfunction, HIV infection at all stages. Patients
undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression.
Individuals treated with or likely to be treated
with systemic steroids for more than a month at a
dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mgs or more per
day (any age) or for children under 20 kgs a dose of
1mg or more per kg per day. |
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Chronic liver disease
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Including cirrhosis |
(iii)
Those living in long-stay residential care homes or
other long-stay care facilities where rapid spread is
likely to follow introduction of infection and cause
high morbidity and mortality (this does not include
prisons, young offender institutions, university halls
of residence etc).
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