Your flu jab in Urmston, before the suitcase comes out
Flu doesn't stick to a calendar once you cross the equator. We can give your flu vaccine here at Davyhulme Pharmacy so a sniffle doesn't shape your whole trip.
Flu is a viral infection of the airways, and it is a good deal more than a bad cold. It tends to come on quickly with a high temperature, aching muscles, exhaustion and a dry cough, and it can knock you flat for several days. For older travellers, pregnant women and anyone with a long-term condition such as asthma, diabetes or a heart problem, it can occasionally lead to more serious complications.
Many people think of flu as a strictly British winter problem, but that picture changes the moment you travel. In tropical regions flu circulates all year, and in the southern hemisphere the flu season runs roughly April to September — the opposite of ours. Add in a packed flight from Manchester Airport, a cruise ship or a busy resort, and you can see why a flu jab before you go is worth a thought, whatever the time of year back home.
Who should consider it
Travellers heading to the southern hemisphere or the tropics, where flu may be circulating while it's quiet in the UK
Anyone aged 65 or over, pregnant, or living with a long-term condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease
People on cruises, group tours, pilgrimages or other trips where you'll be in close quarters with lots of others
Anyone who simply doesn't want a fever and aching limbs writing off the first few days of a long-awaited holiday
Why a flu jab makes sense before you fly
Flu spreads fastest where people are packed together indoors — which describes most of long-haul travel rather well. Aeroplane cabins, coach transfers, cruise dining rooms and crowded markets all give the virus plenty of chances to pass from one person to the next. There's also the seasonal twist. If you're flying south for our summer, you could be landing right in the middle of their flu season with no recent protection at all. A jab a couple of weeks before you set off helps your immune system be ready for whatever's going round at your destination.
How the vaccine is given
For adults the flu vaccine is a single injection into the upper arm, and you're usually in and out in a few minutes. It can't give you flu — the vaccines used in the UK don't contain live virus that can cause the illness. Protection takes around ten to fourteen days to build, so it's best to have your jab roughly two weeks before you travel. Left it later than that? Still come in — some protection on the day you fly is better than none.
A vaccine that changes every year
Flu viruses shift and change constantly, so the vaccine is reformulated each year to match the strains expected to be circulating. That's why a flu jab protects you for a single season rather than for years, and why last year's dose won't carry you through this trip. If you're travelling to the southern hemisphere, the strains there may differ from ours. Our Urmston pharmacist can talk you through what's available and whether the current UK vaccine is a sensible fit for where you're going.
Is it safe, and how will I feel after?
Flu vaccines have an excellent safety record and are given to millions of people across the UK every year. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived — a sore arm is the most common, and some people feel slightly tired or achy for a day or so. Serious reactions are very rare. Do let us know if you've had a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine before, or a serious egg allergy, so we can advise you on the right option.
Frequently asked questions
Only in places like the UK. In tropical countries flu circulates all year round, and in the southern hemisphere — Australia, New Zealand, southern Africa, much of South America — the flu season runs roughly April to September. So if you're travelling there during our summer, you could be heading straight into their flu season. Tell us where you're off to and we'll let you know whether it's worth it.
No. The injected flu vaccines used in the UK don't contain any live virus that can cause flu, so the jab itself can't infect you. You might feel a little off-colour or have a sore arm for a day or two as your immune system responds, but that's not flu — it's a normal, short-lived reaction.
Ideally around two weeks before you leave, as the vaccine needs ten to fourteen days or so to build its full protection. If your trip is sooner than that, it's still worth having — you'll just have a little less lead time, and some cover is better than none.
Not reliably. The vaccine is updated every year to match the strains expected to be going round, and protection fades over a season anyway. For a trip during the southern hemisphere's flu season, last winter's dose may be both out of date and a poor match — so a fresh jab is usually the sensible move. Your pharmacist will confirm.
In most cases, yes. The flu vaccine can usually be given at the same visit as other travel jabs, and we'll plan things so you get everything you need in as few trips into Urmston as possible. Your pharmacist will confirm the timings on the day.
Yes. The flu vaccine is recommended in pregnancy at any stage, because flu can be more serious for both mum and baby, and it's been given safely to many thousands of pregnant women. If you're expecting and planning a trip, do come and have a chat with us and we'll talk it through with you.
Sources & further reading
This information is grounded in NHS, TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) and UKHSA guidance and is for general information only — not a substitute for a personal consultation. Your suitability is assessed by our pharmacist before any vaccination.
Travelling soon? Let's get your flu jab sorted
Call Davyhulme Pharmacy on 0161 748 3016 or pop in, and our Urmston team will fit your flu vaccine around your travel dates.