Public Health Wales urges eligible people in Wales to have free flu vaccine / Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru
[Please scroll down for Welsh]
As part of our service commitment, we share the information below - a joint press release from Public Health Wales.
Public Health Wales is urging all eligible people in Wales to have their free flu vaccine as NHS Wales begins its largest ever national flu vaccine programme.
Flu (also known as influenza) can be serious, particularly for those who are older or have a health condition and are more vulnerable to complications as a result of the flu. Having a flu vaccine every year is one of the most effective ways to protect against flu.
Those eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine include people with long term health conditions, people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, children aged two to ten years old, carers, domiciliary carers and care home staff with regular client contact as well as care home residents.
It is also free for Community First responders and volunteers providing planned first aid. Annual flu vaccine is strongly recommended for all frontline health and social care workers to protect themselves and those they care for.
Children aged two and three (on 31 August 2020) and all primary school children (reception to year six) will be offered the vaccine in nasal spray form. Children from two years old that have a long-term health condition can also receive a free flu nasal spray.
For this season’s flu programme, new groups have been added to the eligible list, making it the largest ever national flu programme.
The new eligible groups include household contacts on the NHS shielded list and people with a learning disability.
In addition, people aged 50 and over may also be offered a free NHS flu vaccine later in a phased approach later in the season.
To promote the vaccine, Public Health Wales has launched a campaign that features a new TV and radio advert as well social media and digital content. The campaign will be live from 21 September, with the TV advert first airing on 5 October.
Research conducted by YouGov, on behalf of Public Health Wales, revealed that of those people who answered they would be eligible for a free flu vaccine 68 per cent said that they would be ‘very likely’ to have the vaccine this year.
At the same time, the data also revealed that 50 per cent of respondents that answered and said they would be eligible believe having a flu vaccine is ‘much more important’ this year as a result of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Casey Keegans, a mental health ward manager at Hafan Y Coed in Llandough Hospital and a current ‘Flu Champion’, said:
“It has always been important to have your flu vaccine, but particularly this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.“For us, we definitely had an increase in admissions and people requiring mental health support as a result of the stress from the pandemic. That’s why we’re lucky we have a vaccine to help protect us against flu, which may be circulating at the same time as COVID-19 this winter.“I know getting vaccinated can be anxiety provoking, but there are plenty of health professionals such as nurses, pharmacists and GP’s who will be able to reassure and support you.“By having the flu vaccine, we’re not only protecting ourselves, but we’re also protecting those around us, especially individuals with pre-existing health conditions.”
Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, said:
“This year we are extending the flu vaccine to more people than ever before. Flu spreads very easily and anyone can catch it. However, it is especially dangerous to people that are more vulnerable, such as those with long term health conditions and pregnant women.
“This winter, with the continued presence of Covid-19 we want to ensure more people receive the flu vaccine, this is why we have increased the eligible groups.
“I understand that some people may be concerned about going to their community pharmacy or GP surgery to get their vaccine because of COVID-19, but surgeries and pharmacies will be following the latest safety practices.
“I strongly urge those who are eligible to have their vaccine as soon as possible to help protect themselves, their families and their community.”
Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, said:
“Flu viruses are easily spread and can be very serious for older people and those with health conditions. Every year, hundreds of people are admitted to hospital or intensive care units with flu.
“Anyone who is recommended to have flu vaccination should make an appointment as soon as possible.
“Flu viruses change every year, so everyone is at risk of flu. Flu vaccine protect three to six out of every 10 people vaccinated. This is why it’s so important to have the flu vaccine every year – to ensure you have the best protection possible.”
Anyone can catch flu. Symptoms are likely to include; a fever, chills, tiredness and weakness, a headache, general aches and pains and a dry, chesty cough. In up to half of cases people can have flu without even realising it – and they can still spread it to others.
Some COVID-19 symptoms are similar to flu so check the latest advice and follow the current COVID-19 guidelines.
To help stop flu and other viruses spreading, remember to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it.’
This flu season, arrangements may be different due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
For the latest information, visit www.beatflu.org or www.curwchffliw.org or search Beat Flu or Curwch Ffliw on Twitter and Facebook.
CONTACT: Public Health Wales Communications Team on 02920 348755 (24 hours)
About Public Health Wales
Public Health Wales is an NHS organisation providing professionally independent public health advice and services to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Wales.
For more information and updates follow us on Twitter @DVSC_Wales, LinkedIn, Instagram and like our DVSC Facebook page. You can also find us on YouTube or subscribe for our news updates: www.dvsc.co.uk
Fel rhan o'n hymrwymiad gwasanaeth, rydyn ni'n rhannu'r wybodaeth isod - datganiad i'r wasg ar y cyd gan mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru.
Mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn annog yr holl bobl gymwys yng Nghymru i gael eu brechlyn ffliw am ddim wrth i GIG Cymru ddechrau ei raglen genedlaethol fwyaf erioed i frechu rhag y ffliw.
Gall y ffliw fod yn ddifrifol, yn enwedig i'r rhai sy'n hŷn neu sydd â chyflwr iechyd ac sy'n fwy agored i gymhlethdodau o ganlyniad i'r ffliw. Cael brechlyn ffliw bob blwyddyn yw un o'r ffyrdd mwyaf effeithiol o amddiffyn rhag y ffliw.
Mae'r rhai sy'n gymwys i gael brechlyn ffliw am ddim gan y GIG yn cynnwys pobl â chyflyrau iechyd hirdymor, pobl 65 oed a throsodd, menywod beichiog, plant rhwng dwy a deg oed, gofalwyr, gofalwyr cartref a staff cartrefi gofal gyda chyswllt rheolaidd â chleientiaid yn ogystal â phreswylwyr cartrefi gofal.
Mae hefyd am ddim i ymatebwyr Cyntaf Cymunedol a gwirfoddolwyr sy'n darparu cymorth cyntaf wedi'i gynllunio. Mae brechlyn ffliw blynyddol yn cael ei argymell yn gryf ar gyfer yr holl weithwyr iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol rheng flaen i amddiffyn eu hunain a'r rhai y maent yn gofalu amdanynt.
Bydd plant dwy a thair oed (ar 31 Awst 2020) a phob plentyn ysgol gynradd (dosbarth derbyn hyd at flwyddyn chwech) yn cael cynnig y brechlyn arffurf chwistrell drwynol. Gall plant o ddwy oed sydd â chyflwr iechyd hirdymor dderbyn chwistrell drwynol ffliw am ddim hefyd.
Ar gyfer rhaglen ffliw'r tymor hwn, mae grwpiau newydd wedi'u hychwanegu at y rhestr gymwys, sy'n golygu mai dyma'r rhaglen ffliw genedlaethol fwyaf erioed.
Mae'r grwpiau cymwys newydd yn cynnwys cysylltiadau cartref ar restr y GIG o'r bobl a warchodir a phobl ag anabledd dysgu.
Yn ogystal, efallai y bydd pobl 50 oed a throsodd hefyd yn cael cynnig brechlyn ffliw am ddim gan y GIG yn ddiweddarach yn y tymor.
I hyrwyddo'r brechlyn, mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi lansio ymgyrch sy'n cynnwys hysbyseb deledu a radio newydd yn ogystal â chynnwys ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol a digidol. Bydd yr ymgyrch yn fyw o 21 Medi, gyda'r hysbyseb deledu yn cael ei darlledu am y tro cyntaf ar 5 Hydref.
Datgelodd ymchwil a gynhaliwyd gan YouGov, ar ran Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, y dywedodd 68 y cant o'r bobl a atebodd y byddent yn gymwys i gael brechlyn ffliw am ddim yn ‘debygol iawn’ o gael y brechlyn eleni.
Ar yr un pryd, datgelodd y data hefyd fod 50 y cant o'r ymatebwyr a atebodd y byddent yn gymwys o'r farn bod cael brechlyn ffliw yn ‘llawer pwysicach’ eleni o ganlyniad i'r Coronafeirws Newydd (COVID-19).
Dywedodd Casey Keegans, rheolwr ward iechyd meddwl yn Hafan y Coed yn Ysbyty Llandochau ac un o'r ‘Hyrwyddwyr Ffliw’ presennol:
“Mae bob amser wedi bod yn bwysig cael eich brechlyn ffliw, ond yn enwedig eleni oherwydd pandemig COVID-19.
“I ni, cawsom gynnydd yn bendant o ran derbyniadau a phobl y mae angen cymorth iechyd meddwl arnynt o ganlyniad i'r straen o'r pandemig. Dyna pam rydym yn ffodus bod gennym frechlyn i helpu i'n hamddiffyn rhag y ffliw, a all fod yn cylchredeg ar yr un pryd â COVID-19 y gaeaf hwn.
“Rwy'n gwybod y gall cael eich brechu beri pryder, ond mae digon o weithwyr iechyd proffesiynol fel nyrsys, fferyllwyr a meddygon teulu a fydd yn gallu rhoi sicrwydd i chi a'ch cefnogi.
“Drwy gael y brechlyn ffliw, rydym nid yn unig yn amddiffyn ein hunain, ond rydym hefyd yn amddiffyn y rhai o'n cwmpas, yn enwedig unigolion â chyflyrau iechyd sy'n bodoli eisoes.”
Meddai Vaughan Gething, y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol:
“Eleni rydym yn ymestyn y brechlyn ffliw i fwy o bobl nag erioed o'r blaen. Mae ffliw yn lledaenu'n hawdd iawn a gall unrhyw un ei gael. Foddbynnag, mae'n arbennig o beryglus i bobl sy'n fwy agored i niwed, fel y rhai â chyflyrau iechyd hirdymor a menywod beichiog.
“Y gaeaf hwn, gyda phresenoldeb parhaus Covid-19 rydym am sicrhau bod mwy o bobl yn cael y brechlyn ffliw, dyna pam rydym wedi cynyddu'r grwpiau cymwys.
“Rwy'n deall y gall rhai pobl fod yn bryderus am fynd i'w fferyllfa gymunedol neu feddygfa meddyg teulu i gael eu brechlyn oherwydd COVID-19, ond bydd meddygfeydd a fferyllfeydd yn dilyn yr arferion diogelwch diweddaraf.
“Rwy'n annog yn gryf y rhai sy'n gymwys i gael eu brechlyn cyn gynted â phosibl er mwyn helpu i amddiffyn eu hunain, eu teuluoedd a'u cymuned.”
Meddai Dr Richard Roberts, Pennaeth y Rhaglen Frechu yn erbyn Clefydau Ataliadwy yn Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru:
“Mae feirysau'r ffliw yn lledaenu'n hawdd a gallant fod yn ddifrifol iawn i bobl hŷn a'r rhai â chyflyrau iechyd. Bob blwyddyn, mae cannoedd o bobl yn cael eu derbyn i'r ysbyty neu unedau gofal dwys gyda'r ffliw.
“Dylai unrhyw un yr argymhellir eu bod yn cael brechiad rhag y ffliw drefnu apwyntiad cyn gynted â phosibl.
“Mae feirysau'r ffliw yn newid bob blwyddyn felly mae pawb mewn perygl o gael y ffliw. Mae'r brechlyn rhag y ffliw yn amddiffyn tri i chwech o bob 10 o bobl sy'n cael eu brechu. Dyma pam ei bod mor bwysig cael y brechlyn rhag y ffliw bob blwyddyn – i sicrhau eich bod yn cael yr amddiffyniad gorau posibl.”
Gall unrhyw un ddal y ffliw. Mae'r symptomau yn debygol o gynnwys; twymyn, oerfel, blinder a gwendid, pen tost, poenau cyffredinol a pheswch sych, ar y frest. Mewn hyd at hanner yr achosion gall pobl gael ffliw heb hyd yn oed sylweddoli hynny – a gallant ei ledaenu i eraill o hyd.
Mae rhai symptomau COVID-19 yn debyg i'r ffliw felly edrychwch ar y cyngor diweddaraf a dilyn y canllawiau presennol ar COVID-19.
I helpu i atal y ffliw a feirysau eraill rhag lledaenu, cofiwch ‘Ei Ddal, Ei Daflu, Ei Ddifa.’
Y tymor ffliw hwn, efallai y bydd y trefniadau yn wahanol oherwydd y Coronafeirws Newydd (COVID-19). I gael y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf, ewch i www.curwchffliw.org neu www.beatflu.org neu chwiliwch am Curwch Ffliw neu Beat Flu ar Twitter a Facebook.
CYSWLLT: Tîm Cyfathrebu Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru ar 02920 348755 (24 awr)
Am Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru
Mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn sefydliad y GIG sy’n darparu cyngor a gwasanaethau iechyd y cyhoedd annibynnol i ddiogelu a gwella iechyd a lles poblogaeth Cymru.
Am fwy o wybodaeth a diweddariadau, dilynwch ni ar Trydar @DVSC_Wales, LinkedIn, Instagram a hoffwch ein tudalen Facebook CGGSDd. Gallwch hefyd ddod o hyd i ni ar You Tube neu tanysgrifiwch am ein diweddariadau newyddion: www.dvsc.co.uk
