Flu Shots at Stirling Central Medical Group
Help protect yourself and those around you from the flu this winter. All flu vaccines are delivered in a professional setting by our friendly doctors and nurses.
What is Influenza?
Influenza (often called the flu) is a highly contagious virus that affects your respiratory system. It is not the same as the common cold. The symptoms of influenza appear suddenly and are significant, they include:
- Fever and chills
- Headache
- Dry Cough
- Sore throat
- Generalised muscle and joint aches
- Fatigue (Tiredness)
- Vomiting and diarrhoea (more common in children).
The flu is a serious disease which can lead to complications (such as pneumonia etc) requiring hospitalisation and can be life-threatening and result in death.
How do you get the influenza?
The flu is spread through the air when someone coughs, sneezes or talks. You can also catch the flu from touching a contaminated surface with the virus on it, and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose.
How does the influenza vaccine help?
A flu shot is the most effective way of preventing and stopping the spread of the flu. It will protect you and those around you who may be at an increased risk of flu related complications, including older people, pregnant women and those with an underlying medical condition or reduced immunity.
The most common strains of influenza change each year, this means that every year a new flu vaccine is required to match the current strains. For this reason, it is recommended that you are vaccinated against the flu every year.
How to relieve influenza symptoms?
In most cases you can treat the symptoms of the influenza yourself. Most people will get better by themselves within 7 to 10 days and without any treatment. Some things you can do to relieve flu symptoms include:
- Treating the symptoms such as fever and pain with paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen (Nurofen or the likes)
- Drinking plenty of water and other non-alcoholic fluids to prevent dehydration
- Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables whenever possible.
- Getting ample rest
- Dry coughing and blocked nose can be helped with over the counter medications cold and cough medications and steam inhalation.
If you have any Cold or flu-like symptoms it is important to get tested for COVID-19 immediately, even if your symptoms are mild!
