Don't Forget Your Flu Jab

New research reveals over half of UK adults are willing to put themselves and others at risk of flu this winter.

Over a third (37%) of UK adults believe there is no need for people in non-vulnerable groups* to have the flu vaccine and a worrying 58% have no plans to get the jab this winter.

This is despite nearly half (48%) saying they would get vaccinated if they thought it would help to protect people around them - suggesting low awareness of the role individuals can play in preventing the spread of the virus.

The research from LloydsPharmacy found that 36% of those who do not receive the vaccine on the NHS, felt that they were healthy so did not need to get vaccinated. Furthermore nearly one in ten (9%) stated they didn’t need it as they had never had flu before.

Research shows that on average people with seasonal flu can infect up to 2 other people^[2], a ripple effect which means that one person with flu can cause nearly 16,500 people to become infected within two weeks – enough to fill 189 double decker buses.^[3]

These figures show just how widespread the flu virus can travel, a figure that could be combatted by having the vaccine which acts as a barrier, helping to prevent the flu from travelling further.

To raise awareness of the importance of healthy adults getting vaccinated, a principle endorsed by leading Virologist Professor Easton, LloydsPharmacy is urging people to form the front line of defence against flu this winter.

LloydsPharmacy also found that there is a lack of awareness about how contagious the condition is, with 52% of people guessing that you are only contagious for up to 24 hours before starting to show symptoms, whereas in reality the figure is around 40 hours.