COVID & FLU jabs available here!

Flu Jab & COVID Jab in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth

Boost your immunity this winter with your flu vaccine

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With covid-19 in circulation, it is more important than ever to protect yourself against flu this winter.

If you are eligible for a free NHS flu jab, please call us on 01493 600610 to book an appointment or simply walk in.

Eligibility for FREE NHS Flu Jab in 2023 to 2024:

♦ those aged 65 years and over

♦ pregnant women

♦ carers

♦ close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

♦ frontline health and social care staff employed by:

♦ a registered residential care or nursing home

♦ registered domiciliary care provider

♦ those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk group:

♦ Asthma (takes steroids inhalers), COPD or bronchitis

♦ Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure

♦ Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5

♦ Chronic liver disease

♦ Chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease

♦ Learning disability

♦ Diabetes

♦ Splenic dysfunction or asplenia

♦ A weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)

♦ Morbidly obese (BMI of 40 and above)

At OnlineChemist in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, we have an expert pharmacist who has been providing seasonal flu jab and other travel vaccines for many years.

We offer –

⇒ Free NHS flu jab / seasonal influenza vaccine

⇒ Private flu jab under patient group direction

⇒ No appointment needed, Monday to Friday 9 – 5 pm – simply walk-in

⇒ If you need out of hour vaccination, please call us on 01493600610

What is flu?

Flu (influenza) is a common infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It can be very unpleasant, but you’ll usually begin to feel better within about a week.

You can catch flu all year round, but it’s especially common in winter, which is why it’s also known as seasonal flu.

Flu isn’t the same as the common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses and the symptoms tend to start more suddenly, be more severe and last longer.

Some of the main symptoms of flu include:

♦ a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above

♦ tiredness and weakness

♦ a headache

♦ general aches and pains

♦ a dry, chesty cough

Cold-like symptoms, such as a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat, can also be caused by flu, but they tend to be less severe than the other symptoms you have.

Flu can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that you have to stay in bed and rest until you feel better.

Who are at risk of flu complications?

Flu can be more severe in certain people, such as:

Anyone aged 65 and over
Pregnant women
Children and adults with an underlying health condition (such as long-term heart or respiratory disease)
Children and adults with weakened immune systems

Anyone in these risk groups is more likely to develop potentially serious complications of flu, such as pneumonia (a lung infection).

Therefore, it is recommended that they have a flu vaccine every year to help protect them. Flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to people who are at risk.

Why do I need a flu vaccine?

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalisation and sometimes even death.

Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalised and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year.

An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalisations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.

When do I have a flu vaccine?

The best time to have a flu vaccine is in the autumn, from the beginning of October to the end of November.

But do not worry if you have missed it, as you can have the vaccine later in winter. Ask a GP or pharmacist.

Can a flu jab give me flu?

The flu vaccination for adults contains inactivated flu viruses, so it cannot give you flu.

Your arm may feel a bit sore where you were injected the flu jab, and some people get a slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards. Other reactions are very rare.

The children’s nasal spray flu vaccine contains live but weakened flu viruses that will not give your child flu.