Flu is often spread through the air by coughs and sneezes. It can also be caught by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces.

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2 Flu is much more than a bad cold. It can make even healthy people feel very unwell for a week or more. In the most serious cases flu can bring on pneumonia or other serious infections, which can, in extreme cases, result in death. Flu is often spread through the air by coughs and sneezes. It can also be caught by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces. In Scotland the flu season usually begins as the weather gets colder, so get the jab as soon as you can. The vaccine is available from October through to the end of March but remember, during the flu season it s never too soon to get vaccinated. To find out more about flu, visit our website at immunisationscotland.org.uk One flu jab will protect you from three strains of this year s flu.

3 Anyone who suffers from heart or lung problems, who has certain other medical conditions, or who is 65 or over, should get the flu vaccine. Conditions and diseases which can make flu much more dangerous include: asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, chronic heart disease, chronic kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, liver problems such as cirrhosis/ hepatitis, diabetes and HIV infection. And if you have children who suffer from any of these conditions, they should be vaccinated too. Anyone undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment should also get vaccinated. If you have an underlying medical condition, flu can hit you hardest. The jab is the safest and most effective way of protecting yourself. Unpaid carers of any age and young carers are also eligible for the flu vaccine. Unpaid carers are people who provide help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour, who are frail, have a physical or mental illness, an addiction or disability. A young carer is a child or young person under the age of 18 carrying out significant caring tasks and assuming a level of responsibility for another person, which would normally be taken by an adult.

4 The vaccine takes around ten days to work and should protect you against flu for around a year. You have to get vaccinated annually, because the virus changes constantly and your immunity reduces over time. Last year s vaccine won t necessarily protect you from this year s flu viruses. Also, it s important to realise that the flu vaccine does not contain a live virus. This means the vaccine can t give you flu, but it can stop you catching it. For the best protection against flu, you need to have a new flu jab every year. The vaccine doesn t contain any live viruses, so it cannot give you the flu. Simply contact your GP surgery to arrange an appointment. The flu jab is free to everyone in Scotland with an underlying medical condition or who is 65 or over. Remember, the vaccine only takes a few minutes and could help keep you well over the winter.

5 To protect yourself from this year s flu you should get vaccinated as soon as you can. A flu jab is very safe, only takes a few minutes, and doesn t contain any live viruses, which means it cannot give you the flu. Flu is a serious illness. If you have heart or lung problems, diabetes or any other long term medical condition or if you are over 65, flu can hit you hardest. The good news is, the jab has been shown to be the most effective way of protecting you from the illness and complications of flu. It s definitely worth getting the flu jab.

6 To order additional copies This resource is available in Urdu, Chinese and Polish,and in an Easy Read format. NHS Health Scotland is happy to consider requests for other languages and formats. Please contact or For any other information Now you know the facts, you know it makes sense to have the flu jab. Arrange your vaccination as soon as you can. Make an appointment with your GP. immunisationscotland.org.uk /2012