Flu jab “still worth it”

NHS Shetland is still encouraging islanders to receive a flu jab, despite admitting the vaccine does not protect people against the main strain of flu spreading across the isles.

Laboratory tests have shown that the vaccine produced for this winter is only successful in three to ten per cent of the cases after a major genetic mutation of the main flu virus.

Last month NHS Shetland urged islanders with underlying health issues to get the flu vaccine from their GP surgeries as soon as they could.

This week director of public health Dr Sarah Taylor said the advice was still to get the vaccine.

“The vaccine is produced for a number of different flu viruses and each year they update the vaccine based on the viruses that were circulating the year before.

“This year the type of flu that is most commonly circulating is not one that is in the vaccine.

“It is still covering some of the types of flu that are circulating – so the judgement is that it is better to provide it to people who might get that particular type of flu even if it is not the most common one.

“It is not as good a vaccine, but a small number of people will still benefit. Flu vaccine is a very safe vaccine, so the judgement is that it is still worth using it.”

Small changes in the virus from year to year are part of the normal “survival technique” of the virus, however health professionals know that every few years the virus undergoes a more dramatic genetic change, Taylor said.