NHS Mid and South Essex is encouraging people eligible for vaccinations to come forward and get vaccinated this winter. Some eligible people may not realise they are entitled to the vaccinations.
Here Rachael, 40, from Benfleet shares her experience:
“Although I previously had the flu vaccine when my employer offered me the vaccination, in 2019 when I was expecting my first child, I was not aware that pregnant mums-to-be were entitled to the flu vaccine.
“At one of my routine antenatal appointments for my first child, I was informed about getting the flu vaccine. I looked into it via the NHS website and saw that it was safe to have whilst pregnant, and by having it I would actually prevent harm to my unborn child, before they were born and after. I didn’t want to have the flu with a newborn either! Because of this experience, I then had the vaccine again with my second pregnancy.
“The injection didn’t hurt, it was just a small prick in the arm. I didn’t experience any side effects apart from a little soreness in the arm for a day.
“I was so grateful for getting the flu vaccination; it kept the flu away whilst I was pregnant and when the children were young. I would definitely encourage everyone who is eligible for the flu protection to get protected. I would particularly recommend getting the flu vaccine for mums-to-be as it’s better safe than sorry, especially when you have a newborn baby to consider.”
If you are pregnant, you can get the flu vaccine for free from your GP or your local pharmacy. You can also speak to your midwife to speak about your options.
For more information on the vaccinations available this winter, please visit our vaccination hub.
Vaccinations