'I avoid flu like the plague' Harold Evans, 78, Rottingdean

Hear Harold Evans talk about why he gets the flu jab every year. Residents aged 65 and over as well as frontline health and social care staff are being urged to have a free flu vaccine to avoid catching and spreading the potentially fatal disease. More than 11,000 Brighton and Hove residents aged 65 and over risk catching seasonal flu this winter if vaccination rates match those of last year. Over the flu season last year at least 13 residents were admitted into intensive care in the city’s hospitals with the highly infectious disease which compares to 904 nationally. No-one died locally from flu although nationally there were 98 deaths. For many the symptoms, which include fever, headache and aches and pains, can be quite mild but for some groups such as those aged 65 and over the disease can lead to hospitalisation, disability and even death. Older residents are being urged to contact their GPs to take up the free jab because the best way to avoid catching and spreading flu is by having a vaccination before the flu season starts. Most people that have the vaccine will not get flu and the side effects are generally mild and can include slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards. Around 24,700 of the 35,800 residents aged 65 and over in the city were vaccinated last year. #freeflujab #staywellsavelives #brighton http://bit.ly/Z8eEsp