Hampshire GP urges people with underlying health conditions to get vaccinations
It comes as the NHS' most recent data sees an increase in flu and COVID activity
A Hampshire GP's urging people with underlying health conditions to get their flu and COVID vaccinations ahead of the winter months.
The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) latest data showed that flu positivity increased from 1.9% to 3.3% and COVID-19 positivity in hospital settings increased from 11.7% in the previous week to 12.9%.
Since the start of September, vaccination teams have been rolling out flu vaccines to pregnant women and children through GP practices, maternity services and via schools.
Dr Helen Evan-Howells, said: "With my background as a GP and an allergy specialist now, it's really important to be thinking about being prepared with your vaccinations.
"Your child will most likely be offered the flu vaccination through their school programme.
"Or you might be called into the surgery.
"Or obviously, if you are an older adult and fall into a vulnerable group or work in health care, then please do get your flu jabs.
"I can always tell when people have flu because they don't want to get dressed, don't want to put their makeup on, they have high fevers, and they can be extremely unwell.
"If you add into that an underlying illness like asthma, then it's really important to think about your vaccinations for flu and COVID where appropriate.
"It really can have a huge impact and it's one of the reasons as to why we want your asthma to be really well controlled.
"So dust mite levels will be higher at this time of year, the pet dander, pollen.
"If you become unwell with something like flu or even colds, it's the time that you're going to really struggle and so we will see that admissions from flu, and sadly deaths from flu are going to be higher in these at risk grounds, such as people with asthma.
"So making sure your asthma is really good, touching base with your asthma specialist, nurse, or doctor and doing your asthma checks is really important."
Eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine changed for this autumn and winter following the recommendation that it should be offered to people aged 75 or over, anyone with a weakened immune system, or those living in older adult care homes.
Appointments and walk-in sessions are available in local pharmacies, GP practices and community clinic drop-in centres across the country.
Maria Curtis has had asthma for years and says since getting vaccinations, she's not suffered from the flu and colds.
However, she still faces huge challenges during the winter with the air being too cold for her asthma, causing her to struggle to breathe.
She said: "The thought of walking across a crowded car park is just, I'm not going to be able to do it.
"A few times I've just driven off as opposed to getting out the car and walk."
Ms Curtis said without her vaccinations she'd feel too stressed leaving the house, and likely cause herself to have an asthma attack.
She told us what her asthma attacks feel like.
Ms Curtis said: "It's awful.
"If you can imagine a cork being put into your throat with a needle hole.
"Breathing through the minutest hole, it is absolutely horrendous."