Dr Mary McCarthy: Being vaccinated can prevent many problems

Our pre-ordered stocks of vaccines arrived in September and since then we have been urging patients to get vaccinated.

There are certain groups that we target because we know that an attack of flu will have a much greater effect on them than it will on young, fit people.

Firstly, we try to encourage those who have chronic breathing difficulties, so those with Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease and younger patients with asthma are a priority, as are those with heart problems or cardiovascular disease.

We aim for those with chronic long-term diseases, such as diabetes, and those over 65 as well as children and pregnant mothers. We have flu clinics running with our practice nurses in charge and organised by our administrative team, but we also have a flagging system on our computers which tells us if patients are eligible for vaccination so they we can offer it opportunistically when they make an appointment to talk about a problem.

Offering flu vaccination is also a chance to suggest other vaccinations; to offer pneumonia vaccine to protect against chest infections, to check on tetanus status and make sure it is up to date and to offer shingles vaccination for the elderly.

We have seen several cases of shingles recently and it is a very uncomfortable disease. It starts a long time before presentation in that when someone contracts chickenpox, which is largely a disease of childhood, some of the virus remains dormant in nerve endings.

It can be reactivated by a number of circumstances such as another illness or a low immune system. Although it is characterised by a blistery rash it is usually pain that is the first symptom.

Patients often complain of a sharp pain somewhere on their back or chest but occasionally on their face which makes them think, initially, that they have pulled a muscle. It is only when the rash appears, a few days later, that they realise that this is something different.

If we get to see the rash early, in the first few days, we prescribe anti-viral medication for a week in the hope that it will ameliorate the after-effects of shingles. Patients can put something like calamine lotion on to sooth the itch and like chickenpox blisters, the rash will eventually fade and the lesions scab over.

Unlike chickenpox, however, some patients may experience persistent itching and discomfort over the site of the rash.

Vaccinations can prevent many problems so if you're called by your surgery to attend please do.