Dorset families warned to protect themselves from Flu and Covid

People across the South West are being urged to protected themselves against Flu and Covid ahead of Christmas.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) want us to get 'winter strong' to avoid illness putting a downer on the festive season.

And it's important to get vaccinated now, as jabs take up to two weeks to provide maximum protection.

UKHSA's Dr Charlotte Bigland told Greatest Hits Radio that no one want's to be ill at Christmas.

"Vaccines are just an incredibly good way of protecting yourself from flu and covid, both of which are utterly miserable and will ruin your Christmas," she said.

And as it's colder outside, we spend more time indoors, which allows bugs to spread much quicker than they would at other parts of the year.

Of course, we learnt a lot about how diseases spread during the Covid pandemic in 2020, but also how to stop them spreading.

Here's Dr Bigland's advice:

"Cough like a Dracula, cough into your elbow, because your elbow doesn't touch other things or cough into a tissue and throw that tissue way.

"Keep washing your hands and if you are unwell, don't go out."

Stop the 'super-spreaders'

In Wiltshire, more than three quarters of people (77.4%) Over 65 have already been vaccinated, the second highest in the South West.

But in other vulnerable groups, like Children under three, pregnant women and people with long-term health conditions, the uptake has been significantly lower.

Only 35% of the county's pregnant women have been vaccinated and less than half of children under three have been protected.

And with children termed "super-spreaders", it's arguably them whom we should vaccinating most urgently.

"We hug them up and cuddle them, particularly when they're ill," said Dr Bigland, "so they tend to spread a lot.

"If we can get them vaccinated, they don't get COVID or flu and then they can't spread it to their grandparents or other carers."

Pre-schoolers are eligible for the free nasal spray at the GP practice and parents of children at school are urged to ensure the vaccine consent forms are completed, with the nasal spray vaccine being delivered in schools across the country.

Assurance for expectant mums

And for pregnant women, Flu or Covid is best avoided as the body responds differently to viruses during pregnancy.

Dr Bigland said: "It can mean you and your baby can get really quite ill.

"We see more people end up in intensive care when they're pregnant. More people end up severely unwell and these are young people and we don't like seeing them intensive care."

Dr Bigland acknowledged that some expectant mums can be wary of vaccines during pregnancy, but she assures them it is safe.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.