Make sure you have Covid-19 and flu jabs before winter
The Epilepsy Society is encouraging everyone who is eligible, to have vaccinations for both Covid-19 and flu as we head for the winter.
Everyone with epilepsy, aged five and over, is eligible for the Covid-19 booster, but they will not be automatically eligible for the flu jab. This is at the discretion of your doctor (see below).
Experts have warned of lower levels of natural immunity to the flu and an increase in the circulation of Covid-19.
Data shows that H3N2 - a subtype of influenza type A - is currently the most-commonly detected flu virus worldwide and has recently caused waves of infection in southern hemisphere countries such as Australia.
The H3N2 strain circulated in the UK last winter but was held largely in check by COVID-19 restrictions when people mixed a lot less and worked from home. This helped to protect people from catching flu but has also led to lower levels of natural immunity to this strain within the population.
The UK Health Security Agency says that there are also early indications that COVID-19 rates are beginning to rise ahead of winter, increasing the threat to people’s health.
Study results from early in the pandemic show individuals who catch both flu and COVID at the same time, known as co-infection, are around twice as likely to suffer death compared to those who only have COVID-19.
Advice from our Medical Director
Ley Sander, Medical Director at the Epilepsy Society and Professor of Neurology at UCL said: “Vaccines for Covid-19 are the best way to protect yourself from this virus. Some people worry that the vaccine may cause a seizure, but the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks. If you are unvaccinated and contract Covid-19, your symptoms are likely to be far worse including a high fever which may trigger a seizure. If you have been vaccinated, you may still contract Covid, but the symptoms should be less severe.
“People with epilepsy are not automatically eligible for the flu jab. This is at the discretion of your GP. I always recommend that people I look after have the jab. Similarly to Covid, flu can cause a high temperature which again can trigger a seizure. I have written a letter of support, available here (link) which you can give to your GP, explaining why the flu jab is important.”
The Epilepsy Society continues to campaign for people with epilepsy to be automatically eligible for the flu vaccine.
As well as taking up the vaccines, the UKHSA is encouraging everyone to help stop the spread of respiratory viruses this winter by practising good hand hygiene, wearing masks in crowded or enclosed public spaces and covering their nose and mouth when they cough and sneeze.
Who is eligible for the Covid-19 and flu vaccinations?
The Government has updated advice around the Covid-19 booster and the flu jab programmes for the autumn. This means that everyone with epilepsy, aged five and over, will be eligible for the Covid-19 booster, although they will not be automatically eligible for the flu jab.
Those eligible are as follows:
Covid-19 booster
Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
Frontline health and social care workers
- All adults aged 50 and over
- Those aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group, including pregnant women (this includes people with epilepsy)
- Those aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- Those aged 16 to 49 years who are carers
You can read the full list of those who are eligible in the Green Book on page 14.
Flu jab
People with epilepsy are not automatically eligible for the flu jab, unless they are also in one of the risk groups listed below. However, the list is not exhaustive, and the Joint Commission on Vaccination and Immunisation, emphasise that the medical practitioner should apply their clinical judgement in assessing whether flu will exacerbate any underlying health condition, as well as the risk of serious illness from the flu.
You can download the letter below from our Medical Director, Professor Ley Sander and take to your GP, supporting your request for a free flu vaccine.
If you are unable to download and print the letter, you can request a printed version by emailing enquiries@epilepsysociety.org.uk or calling 01494 601 300.
Flu risk groups
The groups that are now eligible for the flu vaccine in England this coming season are:
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2022
- all primary school aged children (from reception to Year 6)
- those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (this does not include epilepsy)
- pregnant women
- those aged 65 years and over
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline staff employed by the following types of social care providers without employer led occupational health schemes:
a registered residential care or nursing home
registered domiciliary care provider
a voluntary managed hospice provider
Direct Payment (personal budgets) or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants
And later in the season:
- All adults aged 50 to 64 years
- Secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9, who will be offered the vaccine in order of school year (starting with the youngest first).
You can read the full list of those who are eligible in the Green Book on page 14, table 3.