Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Karen Howell writes for the Globe ...

FLU.

Every year we know it's coming, but every year thousands of people still die from it.

Yet a simple vaccine could save your life. It's known to be so effective that the Government is expanding the school vaccination programme this year.

Our 0-19 Health and Wellbeing teams will be vaccinating a whopping 19,500 children in Wirral alone.

Flu can affect anyone, but it's far more serious for people who have an underlying health condition, as well as older people, children under five, pregnant women and anyone who has had a stroke or TIA.

If you suffer from diabetes, heart disease, bronchitis or emphysema, kidney or liver disease, MS or cerebral palsy or are having steroids or can- cer treatment, you are also more at risk.

As a nurse, I've seen first-hand the devastating effects flu can have.

Because it's a virus, antibiotics won't work.

Most people begin to feel much better in a week or so, but you may feel tired for much longer.

You need to have the flu jab every year to be protected, as the virus is constantly changing, so the vaccine is updated to target the new strains.

You can't catch flu from the flu jab because the vaccine doesn't contain live viruses.

A very small number of people have aching muscles or a slight temperature after having it, but that's just their immune system responding.

It takes about two weeks for your body to develop antibodies and provide protection.

In the meantime, you can still catch flu, so it's better to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

It's scary to think that three quarters of those who catch the flu virus don't show any symptoms.

All good and well if that's you, but you could be unknowingly infecting others who are far more vulnerable.

So if you have a family member, a friend or a neighbour who's at increased risk, encourage them to get their jab.

Carers should also get vaccinated.

Here at the Community Trust we take flu very seriously.

Our staff are in contact with vulnerable patients day in day out, so we encourage all staff to have their jab. I was at the front of the queue!

This year, for every member of staff that has their vaccination, we are also donating ten tetanus jabs to Unicef for newborn babies and their mothers in Africa.

Australia and New Zea- land have already reported their worst flu outbreak in years over their core winter months.

So we are bracing ourselves for what could be a bad flu season here. So please, speak to your GP or pharmacist and make sure you get yourself protected.