Influenza vaccine

The disease:

Influenza (also known as ‘flu’) is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. Although there are different types of influenza viruses (and they change from year to year), the influenza A and B viruses are responsible for most human illness and for the flu season each year.

Anyone can catch the virus from inhaling particles sprayed into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or by having direct contact with respiratory secretions of someone with the infection. The virus spreads rapidly from person to person with most cases peaking in winter months.

The time from the moment of exposure to the influenza virus until the first symptoms develop is usually 1 to 3 days. After this period symptoms come on very quickly and can include:

    1. Fever and/or chills.
    2. Headache.
    3. Painful or aching muscles.
    4. Extreme fatigue.
    5. Loss of appetite.
    6. Dry cough.
    7. Sore throat.
    8. Runny nose.

Although the condition is generally self-limited, it can sometimes lead to serious complications like pneumonia in certain groups of people (pregnant women, older people, those morbidly obese or with chronic health conditions, and people with weakened immune systems).

The vaccine:

In the UK, the flu vaccine is available each year to protect against influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The ideal time for getting the flu vaccine is between September and early November.

There are different types of flu vaccine:

    • The nasal spray flu vaccine, which contains live viruses that are attenuated (weakened).
    • The injected flu vaccines, which contain no live viruses. They are designed to protect against 3 (trivalent) or 4 (quadrivalent) different influenza viruses.

Although the flu vaccine is the best way we have to reduce your chances of getting the flu (and spreading it to others), it is not 100% effective. However, if you do catch flu after vaccination it is likely to be milder than if you had not been vaccinated.

We are assured of the safety of flu vaccines used in the UK, as they undergo a series of rigorous testing procedures before they become available to the public. Side effects of flu vaccines are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days. These can include: mild fever, aching muscles, headache, nausea, soreness and/or swelling where you were injected, and a runny/blocked nose from the nasal spray.

Who should have the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to people who are most at risk of developing serious complications from influenza infection (see above), such as adults with chronic neurological conditions like MS (especially when their immune system is compromised by drugs they take to fight MS).

Our recommendation is that all MSers receive the flu vaccine every year. You will receive the flu vaccine that is most effective for your age:

    1. MSers younger than 18 years should receive the nasal spray flu vaccine.
    2. MSers aged 18-64 years (including pregnant women with MS – it's safe to have the flu vaccine during any stage of pregnancy) should receive the quadrivalent injected flu vaccine.
    3. MSers older than 64 should receive the trivalent injected flu vaccine.

We also recommend that household members and carers of MSers receive the flu vaccine. You can have your free NHS flu vaccine at your GP surgery, at a local pharmacy offering the service and/or at your midwifery service.

Who should not have the flu vaccine?

Most MSers can have the flu vaccines. None of the flu vaccines should be given to MSers who have had a confirmed serious allergic reaction to the vaccine or any of its components in the past.

As the nasal spray flu vaccine contains live viruses, it cannot be given to an MSer whose immune system is severely compromised (after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which is an intense chemotherapy treatment for MS) or to their close contacts.