People urged to get five-minute medical procedure or ‘risk death’ | Personal Finance | Finance

People have been urged to get a flu vaccine to avoid serious illnesses. Some groups can now get their flu vaccine for free on the NHS. You’ll be able to access the service until the end of March 2026, but medical experts are encouraging people to get their vaccinations as soon as possible.

Dr Jeff Foster, medical director manual.coHe said it is beneficial to get your vaccine early. He explained why: “From a personal perspective, this means that your immunity is acquired earlier and you are therefore protected before the majority of the annual disease spreads.

“Simply put, if you’ve already been vaccinated, your risk of getting sick and catching the flu is reduced. The second reason is that it helps with herd immunity. The more people who are vaccinated, the harder it is for the virus to spread, meaning vulnerable people are less likely to catch the disease badly or at all if they can’t get vaccinated themselves.”

Mr Foster also warned of some significant health risks if you don’t get your flu vaccine. He said: “It is important for everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated as it will reduce their risk of contracting severe flu, which can lead to pneumonia, sepsis and even death.

“Last year, 50 children and more than 7,000 adults died from flu. This number could be radically reduced if they were vaccinated. True flu is not just a bad cough or cold. It is a potentially life-threatening disease for those at greater risk.”