Council leader urges public to get flu jab

The Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council has had his flu jab – have you had yours?

There’s still time to see your GP or pharmacist to protect yourself against the latest strain of winter flu, a virus which can lay the healthiest of people low, but is far more serious for the most vulnerable in our communities.
Cllr Kevin Madge visited his surgery – Brynteg in Ammanford – to get his jab for his own protection, and for the hundreds of people he meets in his role as Leader.
He is now urging others to act quickly.
“I know we are coming towards the end of the vaccination campaign, but there is still time to get your flu jab either from your GP or from your local pharmacy,” he said.
Many front-line council staff, mostly care workers, have had the flu vaccination to help stop the spread of the virus to the people we care for.
Flu is caused by a virus and spreads quickly in closed environments such as hospitals and care homes.
Older people, and those with long-term health conditions or recovering from treatment, are at increased risk of catching flu – and in some cases, the illness can be fatal.
These groups of people, along with carers, are offered the vaccination free of charge by their GP, however members of the public can protect themselves for a small charge at most pharmacies.
The flu vaccine is changed each year to best match circulating virus strains, so it is important that people are immunised annually.