Time to get your flu vaccine!

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Getting your annual flu vaccine early will give you one less thing to worry about this winter, so head to your local Dis-Chem pharmacy (or another pharmacy if there is no Dis-Chem pharmacy near you) to get yours!

WHY IT MAKES SENSE TO GET A FLU VACCINE

If you don’t have a flu vaccine and then get the flu this year, you may stress unduly about potentially having contracted Covid-19 (which would not be good for your mental health or your immune system)! By the same token, if you do develop severe symptoms despite having had a flu vaccine, you would be more inclined to seek medical help for potentially having contracted Covid-19 in good time.

The most compelling argument for having your annual flu vaccine during this pandemic is that the more people are vaccinated against flu, the less flu (and flu-related complications) there would be. This will ease the strain on health care workers and make more medical resources available to patients with Covid-19.

Many people feel that they are healthy enough to skip the flu vaccine, or even believe that it can make them ill. Please see this article for common flu myths and truths to help you make an informed decision.

WHERE TO GET YOUR FLU VACCINE

To save on consultation fees at your GP, get your vaccine from your local Dis-Chem pharmacy (or another pharmacy if there is no Dis-Chem pharmacy near you). Dis-Chem is trading under their normal trading hours and these can be found on www.dischem.co.za.

HOW THE SOCIETY COVERS FLU VACCINES

The Society covers one trivalent flu vaccine (which offers protection against the three main influenza strains of the season) per beneficiary per year, at a 100% benefit. For high-risk members (people 65 years and older, people who are immune suppressed, children between 3 and 5 years old and patients with two or more chronic conditions) Vaxigrip Tetra (a flu vaccine that protects against an additional, less common, influenza virus strain) will also be covered.

WHY TO STAGGER FLU AND COVID-19 VACCINES

Although there is currently no scientific evidence about the potential safety or harm of having a flu and Covid-19 vaccine within the same time frame, experts recommend a gap of at least two weeks between receiving the different vaccines.