Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford and DUP spokesperson for health, has encouraged people who are elderly or who may be vulnerable due to poor health to ensure that they take the time to get the flu jab.
Mr Shannon said: “Flu is an unpredictable virus that can cause mild orxa0unpleasant illness in most people. It can cause severe illness and even death among vulnerable groups includingxa0older people, pregnant women and people with an underlying health condition.
“Certain people arexa0more likely toxa0develop potentially seriousxa0complications of flu, such asxa0bronchitisxa0andxa0pneumonia. These peoplexa0are advised to have a flu jab each year. Chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such asxa0asthmaxa0(which requires anxa0inhaled or tablet steroid treatment, or has led to hospital admission in the past),xa0chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema orxa0bronchitis.
* chronic heart disease, such asxa0heart failure
* chronic kidney disease
* chronic liver disease, such asxa0hepatitis
* chronic neurological conditions, such asxa0Parkinson’s disease,xa0motor neurone diseasexa0orxa0multiple sclerosis (MS)
* diabetes
* problems with your spleen – for example,xa0sickle cellxa0disease or if you have had your spleen removed
* a weakened immune systemxa0as the result ofxa0conditions such asxa0HIVxa0and AIDS, or medicationxa0suchxa0asxa0steroid tabletsxa0orxa0chemotherapy
* beingxa0seriously overweight (BMI of 40 or above).
“As a diabetic, my doctor’s surgery contacts me to inform me of flu jab surgeries and it is so important that if you are on the list of people vulnerable to the flu that you take the time to get this jab and possibly save yourself a miserable winter of flu.”
