As Autumn sets in and the flu season approaches, it is important to consider vaccination and how it can protect us from this contagious, and sometimes severe, virus. The flu vaccine is widely available and recommended by both local and international health organisations. However, there is often reluctance to get the vaccine as misconceptions still exist about its efficacy and necessity. This article will discuss the benefits of the vaccine, how effective it is and how it acts as a protective measure for us and our families.

What is flu?

Flu is a respiratory virus spread by droplets created from sneezing or coughing. The infection causes a number of symptoms, including fever, body aches, cough, sore throat and fatigue. It sometimes can be more serious and result severe breathing difficulty, chest infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions.

Understanding the flu vaccine

The Flu vaccine is developed annually, based on research and recommendations from the World Health Organisation, who continuously monitor flu strains across the world. Each year they advise on the three or four key flu strains that are predicted to be the most common strains in the upcoming season. On receiving the vaccine, the body’s immune system is stimulated to develop antibodies, which then provide immune protection when the body is later exposed to those viruses. This reduces the likelihood of infection and can also reduce the severity of a subsequent flu infection, as well as the risk of complications.   

Vaccine Effectiveness

The efficacy of the flu vaccine is influenced by a number of factors, including age, other health conditions and how closely matched the flu strains in circulation and the vaccine are. Studies have shown that the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of flu by 40-60% when the vaccine closely matches the circulating flu viruses. 

New evidence from studies of the UK’s flu data over our last Winter (2023-2024), has revealed that the flu vaccination reduced hospitalisations in over 65 year olds by 30% and reduced hospitalisations in children aged 2 to 17 by 74%.

Types of Flu Vaccines

There are a number of different types of flu vaccines, which are each designed for different age groups and health needs:

• Quadrivalent injected vaccines – protect against four flu strains – this is the vaccine we have at Coyne Medical and protects against the four key strains recommended for 2024/25 by the World Health Organisation.
• High dose quadrivalent injected vaccines – For older adults, to offer stronger immune protection.
• Adjuvanted injected vaccines – for adults over the age of 65, as the adjuvant enhances the immune response. 
• Nasal spray vaccines – a live attenuated vaccine offered to most children from the age of 2 up to year 11 of school (aside from a few exceptions, depending on medical history).

Benefits of the Flu Vaccine

As well as protecting us from flu and reducing the severity of flu illness, the benefits of the vaccine also extend to positive impacts upon the health, wellbeing and productivity of our wider communities. These benefits include:

Individual Protection 

• Reduced infection risk – The vaccine reduces the risk of infection and severity of infection.
• Prevention of severe outcomes – Flu can result in severe complications, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Vaccination reduces the the risk of these complications and subsequently reduces rates of hospitalisations and ITU admissions due to infection. This is particularly important for vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions. 

Family and community protection 

• Herd Immunity – When a significant number of the a community have received vaccination, this creates herd immunity. As spread of viruses is limited by vaccination, protection is then offered to those who cannot be vaccination (such as young babies). 
• Reduced Transmission – The reduction in transmission is also valuable in reducing infection rates in settings were close contacts with others is unavoidable (such as hospitals, schools and care homes)

Economic and Healthcare Benefits

• Decreased Healthcare Costs – Given that flu vaccination can help reduce the risk of flu, severity of flu and risk of complications, it helps reduce the costs associated with the treatment of flu and its complications (such as the cost of medication and hospital stays).
• Enhanced Workforce Productivity – Those that are vaccinated are less likely to get flu and also experience milder symptoms if they get it. This means that they will need to take less time off work, which will have less of an impact on productivity and economic output.

Addressing Common Misconceptions

Myth 1: The Flu Vaccine Causes Flu 

This is one of the most common myths that we hear. The vaccines either contain inactivated flu strains, weakened forms of the virus or genetic material from a virus. None of these elements cause flu but they do stimulate the immune response which can cause some mild flu-like symptoms as a side effect (such as low grade fever, aching and tiredness).

Myth 2: Healthy Individuals Do Not Need the Flu Vaccine

This is another common misconception. Whilst healthy people are at a lower risk of complications from flu infection, they can still become unwell and also spread the infection to others who may be more vulnerable. Vaccination helps to protect the individual and those around them.

Myth 3: The Flu Vaccine is Ineffective

This perception comes from the fact that the vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing infection. However it does not take into account the benefits of reduced severity of infection, reduced risk of complications and reduction in transmission (along with all of the many other substantial benefits listed above). Overall, the benefits clearly stack up.

Recommendations and Best Practices

Timing of Vaccination

The optimal time to receive the vaccine is before the end of October, when flu viruses start to spread more. Vaccination later in the flu season can still provide benefits, as infection rates tend to peak in January and February, but can continue until May. It takes up to two weeks to get the full immunity benefits of the vaccine after having it.

Vaccination for Specific Populations

Anyone over the age of 6 months can have the flu vaccine, but certain groups should prioritise vaccination, as they are at increased risk of complications. This includes:

• Adults and children with certain long term health conditions (see below)
• Adults over the age of 65 (recommended to get the adjuvanted vaccine)
• Children aged 2 years and above, up to year 11 of school
• Pregnant women 
• People who live in a residential or nursing home
• People who are carers
• People with a learning disability
• Those living with someone who has a weakened immune system
• Health and social care workers

Children and adults with long term health conditions are advised to get the flu jab as sometimes flu can make their  condition worse. This includes heart problems, certain lung diseases, kidney disease, those with weakened immunity, liver disease, prior stroke or mini-stroke, diabetes, some neurological conditions, problems with your spleen and people with a body mass index of over 40.

Annual Vaccination

As flu viruses are constantly evolving and new strains are regularly appearing, yearly vaccination is essential to ensure that we have optimal immunity against the current flu strains. Data is continually being collected on the current circulating strains and this is used to make recommendations of the composition of the flu vaccine each year.

Conclusion

The flu vaccine is a vital tool that helps protect us against this contagious and sometimes severe infection. It has a huge range of benefits for individuals, by reducing the risk of infection, severity of infection and risk of complications. But it also has more far reaching benefits for families and wider communities, by reducing transmission, offering herd immunity and helping protect the vulnerable (including those who may not be eligible for or have access to the vaccine). As flu season approaches, it is imperative to prioritise flu vaccination for ourselves and our families.

Dr J Hugh Coyne

Private GP

Parsons Green

Fulham