Published: Tuesday, 24th November 2015
Cannock Chase Council is supporting the ‘Stay well this winter’ campaign and urging vulnerable residents in the District to protect themselves.
The campaign launched by Public Health England and NHS England aims to prevent admissions by encouraging people of 65, or those with long term health conditions to prepare for winter with advice on how to ward off common illnesses.
The NHS ‘Stay Well This Winter’ campaign urges the public to:
- Make sure you get your flu jab if eligible
- Keep yourself warm - heat your home to least 18 degrees C or (65F) if you can
- If you start to feel unwell, even if it’s just a cough or a cold, then get help from your pharmacist quickly before it gets more serious
- Make sure you get your prescription medicines before pharmacies close on Christmas Eve
- Always take your prescribed medicines as directed
- Look out for other people who may need a bit of extra help over winter
This year also seeks to help over three million 2-6 year olds as the national flu vaccination programme is extended to children in school years 1 and 2.
For the first time, all our youngest primary school children will be eligible to receive the free nasal spray vaccine, making this the largest school-based vaccination programme in England involving children in 17,000 schools.
As in previous years, the adult flu vaccine will also be offered for free to those in groups at particular risk of infection and complications from flu. The groups being offered the adult flu vaccine are:
- Pregnant women
- Those aged 65 or over
- Those aged under 65 with long-term conditions
- Carers
Councillor Muriel Davis, Portfolio Leader for Health & Wellbeing said “Flu for many is an unpleasant illness but for those vulnerable people in the District it can be life threatening.
I would urge all those who are eligible for the free vaccine on the NHS to get vaccinated if they haven’t already done so, I’ve had mine!”
For more information please visit the website at www.nhs.uk/staywell