Press release from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Beat flu before it beats you –
Launch of national flu vaccination campaign in Wales
The annual national campaign to encourage people in eligible groups across Wales to have a flu vaccination and protect themselves from the illness is being launched today (Monday, 10 October 2016).
‘Beat Flu’ aims to encourage the people who need it most to get protection each year against flu, a potentially dangerous disease. This includes everyone aged 65 and over, people with certain chronic long term health conditions and pregnant women.
Carers, volunteers providing planned emergency first aid and Community First Responders, are also entitled to the vaccine, which is delivered as a small injection in the arm.
Frontline health and social care workers should have the vaccine as part of their occupational health care, to protect themselves and those they care for.
The vaccine programme will be extended this year for children and those between the ages of two and seven will be eligible. The vaccine for children is a simple nasal spray with children aged 2 and 3 receiving it at their GP practice while those in reception class and school years 1, 2 and 3 will receive the nasal spray at school.
Vaccination clinics are taking place across North Wales and Siobhan Adams, Deputy Director of Public Health for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is, urging all those who are eligible to have the flu jab.
Siobhan said: “Flu can cause serious complications and even lead to death. The flu vaccine can significantly reduce the chances of getting flu and so it is very important that those people who are offered the flu vaccine by their GP should take up the offer and visit their GP or local pharmacy as soon as possible to ensure they are protected.
“GPs in North Wales are prepared for this winter’s battle against the flu bug and are already contacting eligible patients inviting them for the vaccine.
“Our school nurse teams will be visiting each primary school immunising children in Reception class, Year 1, 2 and 3 to offer the nasal flu vaccine which is given up the nose as a spray, so it is painless and quick as there is no needle.
“We have to ensure that people who are eligible for this free vaccine are aware that the flu virus can kill – and the best people can protect themselves is to have the vaccine”
Minister for Social Services and Public Health, Rebecca Evans, who is launching the Beat Flu campaign today, said it’s vital that those most at risk of flu and its complications have the free vaccine.
Rebecca Evans has encouraged others to join her and pledge to beat flu. The Minister said: “Flu can be a life-threatening illness for people who are at risk because of their age, because they have an underlying health problem or because they are pregnant. Sadly, it kills people in Wales every year.
“People can also pledge to Beat Flu by reminding eligible relatives and friends to get their flu vaccine this autumn. We run this programme every year to make sure people don’t fall seriously ill with flu, especially as it can be prevented so quickly and simply – so make sure you get protected early.”
Health and social care workers are also encouraged to get a flu vaccine as it is the best way to prevent spreading disease, and their employers should support them in this.
Each year the flu vaccine is changed to match circulating strains of the flu virus, this is to give best protection. Most NHS flu vaccines are given in GP surgeries, but it is also available in some community pharmacies across Wales.
Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme in Public Health Wales, added: “Each year flu viruses circulate causing many people to be ill. The viruses change regularly and vaccine protection fades over time, so if you are in a risk group and had the vaccine last year you should get vaccinated again this year to protect you from flu this winter.
“Getting vaccinated against flu every year is the single best way to protect against catching or spreading flu.
“Flu can be really serious even with treatment, but getting vaccinated offers good protection, so make sure you beat flu before it beats you!”
Find out more by visiting www.beatflu.org
Curwch Ffliw cyn iddo eich curo chi –
Lansio ymgyrch brechu ffliw genedlaethol yng Nghymru
Caiff yr ymgyrch genedlaethol flynyddol i annog pobl mewn grwpiau cymwys ar draws Cymru i gael brechlyn ffliw i’w hamddiffyn eu hunain rhag y salwch ei lansio heddiw (Dydd Llun, 10 Hydref 2016).
Nod ‘Curwch Ffliw’ bob blwyddyn yw annog y bobl sydd ei angen fwyaf i gael amddiffyniad yn erbyn ffliw, sy’n gallu bod yn salwch peryglus. Mae hyn yn cynnwys pawb sy’n 65 a hŷn, pobl sydd â rhai cyflyrau iechyd cronig tymor hir penodol a menywod beichiog.
Mae gofalwyr, gwirfoddolwyr sy’n darparu cymorth cyntaf brys ac Ymatebwyr Cyntaf Cymunedol hefyd yn gymwys i dderbyn y brechlyn, a gaiff ei roi ar ffurf chwistrelliad bach i’w braich.
Dylai gweithwyr iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol llinell flaen gael brechlyn fel rhan o’u gofal iechyd galwedigaethol, i’w hamddiffyn eu hunain a’r bobl sydd dan eu gofal.
Caiff y rhaglen frechu ei hehangu eleni i blant a bydd y rhai sydd rhwng dwy a saith oed yn gymwys. Mae'r brechiad i blant yn cael ei roi fel chwistrell drwynol syml gyda phlant dwy a thair oed yn ei gael yn eu meddygfa leol tra bydd plant yn y dosbarth derbyn, blwyddyn 1, 2 a 3 yn yr ysgol gynradd yn cael y chwistrelliad drwynol yn yr ysgol.
Cynhelir clinigau brechu ar draws Gogledd Cymru ac mae Siobhan Adams, Dirprwy Cyfarwyddwr Iechyd Cyhoeddus, Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr yn annog pawb sy’n gymwys i fynd i gael y pigiad ffliw.
Dywedodd Siobhan: “Gall y ffliw achosi cymhlethdodau difrifol ac arwain at farwolaeth hyd yn oed. Gall brechiad y ffliw lleihau'r siawns o gael y ffliw yn sylweddol, ac felly mae hi'n bwysig iawn bod yr unigolion hynny sy'n cael cynnig brechiad y ffliw gan eu Meddygon Teulu gymryd y cynnig a mynd i weld eu Meddygon Teulu neu fferyllfa leol cyn gynted â phosibl i sicrhau eu bod yn cael eu hamddiffyn.
"Mae Meddygon Teulu yng Ngogledd Cymru yn barod am frwydr y gaeaf yn erbyn byg y ffliw, ac maent eisoes yn cysylltu â chleifion cymwys gan eu gwahodd i gael brechiad y ffliw.
"Bydd ein timau nyrsys ysgol yn ymweld â phob ysgol gynradd gan imiwneiddio plant yn Nosbarthiadau Derbyn, Blynyddoedd 1, 2 a 3 i gynnig brechiad y ffliw trwynol a roddir i fyny'r trwyn fel chwistrell, felly mae'n ddi-boen ac yn gyflym gan nad oes nodwydd.
"Mae'n rhaid i ni sicrhau bod unigolion sy'n gymwys am y brechiad ffliw am ddim hwn yn ymwybodol y gall firws y ffliw ladd - a'r ffordd orau y gall unigolion amddiffyn eu hunain yw drwy gael y brechiad"
Dywedodd y Gweinidog Iechyd y Cyhoedd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Rebecca Evans, sy’n lansio ymgyrch Curwch Ffliw heddiw, ei bod yn hanfodol fod y rheini sydd â risg o gael ffliw a’i gymhlethdodau’n cael y brechlyn am ddim.
Mae Rebecca Evans wedi annog eraill i ymuno â hi i addunedu i Guro Ffliw. Dywedodd y Gweinidog: “Gall ffliw fod yn salwch sy’n beryg bywyd i bobl sydd mewn perygl oherwydd eu hoedran, am fod ganddyn nhw broblem iechyd sylfaenol neu am eu bod yn feichiog. Yn anffodus, mae’n lladd pobl yng Nghymru bob blwyddyn.
“Gall pobl hefyd addunedu i Guro Ffliw drwy atgoffa perthnasau a ffrindiau cymwys i gael eu brechlyn ffliw yr hydref hwn. Rydym ni’n rhedeg y rhaglen hon bob blwyddyn i wneud yn siŵr nad yw pobl yn mynd yn ddifrifol wael gyda ffliw, yn enwedig gan fod modd ei atal mor gyflym a syml - felly gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod yn cael amddiffynfa gynnar.”
Anogir gweithwyr iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol hefyd i gael brechlyn ffliw gan mai dyma’r ffordd orau i atal lledaenu’r clefyd, a dylai eu cyflogwyr eu cefnogi yn hyn o beth.
Bob blwyddyn mae’r brechlyn ffliw yn newid i gyd-fynd â’r firysau ffliw sy'n cylchredeg er mwyn sicrhau’r amddiffyniad gorau. Caiff y mwyafrif o frechlynnau ffliw y GIG eu rhoi mewn meddygfeydd teulu, ond mae hefyd ar gael mewn fferyllfeydd cymunedol ar draws Cymru.
Dywedodd Dr Richard Roberts, Pennaeth y Rhaglen Frechu yn erbyn Clefydau Ataliadwy yn Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru: “Bob blwyddyn mae firysau ffliw yn cylchredeg ac yn achosi i lawer o bobl fod yn sâl. Mae’r firysau hyn yn newid yn rheolaidd ac mae amddiffyniad y brechlyn yn pylu dros amser, felly os ydych chi mewn grŵp risg ac wedi cael y brechlyn y llynedd dylech sicrhau eich bod yn cael eich brechu eto eleni i’ch diogelu rhag y ffliw y gaeaf hwn.
“Cael eich brechu yn erbyn ffliw bob blwyddyn yw’r ffordd orau i ddiogelu yn erbyn dal neu ledaenu ffliw.
“Gall ffliw fod yn wirioneddol ddifrifol hyd yn oed os caiff ei drin, ond mae cael eich brechu’n cynnig amddiffyniad da, felly gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod yn Curo Ffliw cyn iddo eich curo chi!”
Gallwch gael rhagor o wybodaeth drwy fynd i www.curwchffliw.org
DIWEDD