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YesInger shots, clementines, 10 hours of sleep, soups, seasonings, surplus hydration, supplements — for the past three weeks, I’ve tried almost everything and anything to keep myself from getting sick. Yet, as hard as I struggle, I can feel something brewing in the background; Pain in limbs, heaviness in head, increase in body temperature. While it’s not that scary right now H3N2 flu strain Out in full force, something is definitely No Correct.
This is not a surprise. Cold And the levels of flu in the UK right now are ridiculous. An average of 2,660 patients were in hospital beds with the flu every day last week urged to wear masks If they have to go out to deal with the wave. Inevitably, this has also seen a rise in Covid lockdown flashbacks, and my attention was particularly drawn to December 2020, when we were advised to see our loved ones in a “limited and cautious” manner, while Alfa B117 variant It was spreading rapidly throughout the country.
Flu at Christmas wouldn’t be fun for me – but it almost certainly wouldn’t be fatal. The same cannot be said for my 87-year-old grandfather, who is firmly in the high-risk category. Although she is protected by the flu vaccine, it does not make her invulnerable to the enhanced H3N2 strain, and I am concerned about her being contaminated. For the price of £21.95 at Boots, might it be worth slapping on, even NHS Does not direct?
“If you’re a young person who doesn’t have any underlying conditions that make you eligible, you should still consider broken flu“Dr Nisa Aslam says NHS You can book a vaccine appointment with ease or difficulty – depending on where in the UK you live, including a GP who points you to a local pharmacy, Boots or Superdrug as one of the many high street locations. Currently, in south London, it is a struggle.
This is disappointing, because Dr Aslam says it is important to book as soon as possible if you want Security For Christmas – but of course, that’s easier said than done. “It takes about 10 days to two weeks for most people to get protection,” she says. broken flu as soon as you can.”
And it’s not just your loved ones you can protect. “The other group you’re protecting is individuals in the community who are unable to get the flu vaccine, so it could be transplants, organ transplant recipients,” says Dr. Aslam. “These may be people who are allergic to ingredients in the flu vaccine. So, there are essentially many good reasons to get a flu vaccine.”
there is also superflu NHS pushed to the brinkWith leading doctors warning of severe hospital overcrowding, countless staff members contracted the disease and a worrying number of cases were reported among children. “We have more hospitalizations this time of year than in previous years,” says Dr. Aslam.
And it’s important to remember that because you don’t feel Being sick doesn’t mean you don’t have the virus. “You can basically be infectious for up to 24 hours before you develop symptoms,” warns Dr. Aslam. “Then, you can remain infectious for up to a week after that.”
“Maybe, for example, if someone is very frail, undergoing chemotherapy or has a very young child, try to keep a distance from them,” the GP suggests. “Don’t get too close, and remember things like hand hygiene, disposing of any used tissues, and ventilating the room you’re going to be spending time in, as all of these things mean you can still see your loved ones, but you’re taking measures to protect them.”
It is important to note that even if you and your loved ones have received the flu vaccine, it may still be advisable to follow these measures to avoid infecting a vulnerable person.
“It’s hard to know,” admits Dr. Aslam, about what gambles many of us will take this festive season. “You can’t make rigid rules, because we have to balance protecting loved ones from mental health [issues] With things like loneliness.” Specifically, a recent Age UK study found that more than one million elderly people may cost Christmas alone, while 5 percent will not see or talk to anyone during the entire day.
So, at the risk of sounding like we’re back in a time machine, here seems to be an obvious answer: “One thing the pandemic has taught us is that if you can comfortably tolerate a mask, it’s going to help,” says Dr. Aslam. “These viruses spread through respiratory droplets, and mask Absolutely Provide a layer of protection.”
Ho, ho, oh no, here we go again.