First of all, it’s a myth that the flu vaccine can make you ill. I urge your mother to have the jab.
Without it, the influenza virus can be fatal, with complications leading to death most common in the frail elderly and those weakened by other conditions.
The need for vaccination is particularly pressing this winter following a major outbreak in Australia affecting 170,000 people — more than double the normal number — and where a reported 72 people have died. We are forewarned by their experience as the virus spreads across the globe to the northern hemisphere as we enter winter.
A number of misconceptions surrounding the flu vaccine have led to concerns about its safety and whether it is suitable for everyone. The first is that the vaccine contains strains of the flu. This is correct but, crucially, these strains of the virus are dead and do not, as some believe, cause infection.
