Flu Season - Health Education

Thank you to everyone who has checked up on me in the last 48 hours. I had my annual flu jab this week and have been taken off my feet Friday and today. I have had the flu shot ever year, for the last 10 years, and have never been ill. According to the CDC, mild side effects from the flu shot include soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever and aches. ... Rare but serious side effects can occur, including allergic reactions.

I have a full-on-head cold, which means that it is not linked to the inoculation but more likely one of you cold-ridden lot has shared your cold with me and the onset of the cold has coincided with my visit to the Flu Vaccine Clinic.

So, those of you have expressed concerns about having your flu jab, I can only encourage you to go and get it done. Although, right now, I feel ‘rough’ due to the head cold - it is not as bad as flu. Flu has in the past, has put me in A and E - so I know the difference.

The reasons to have a flu shot are to protect you and your loved ones. You might be fighting fit but others in your family might not be. If you have grandparents around, if you have relatives and friends with certain medical conditions who are more likely to develop potentially serious complication of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, if there are pregnant women in the family and friendship groups and if you have brothers and sisters or children under the age of 3 go and get it done. For many of us - it is free!

Children, in school, in Reception and Years 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 - known as the most toxic population and the biggest spreaders of flu, the school will be arranging the flu jab. If your homeschooled you need to go and ask for it.

In the meantime, I am at home with my hot water bottle, drinking lots of honey and lemon (looking like Rudolf) and thinking about what I need to teach you next!