Should my employer offer me a flu-jab?

Whether your employer should offer you a flu-jab will depend on the kind of work you do. Many health care and residential home staff are offered voluntary immunisation to both protect them and also any patients they come in contact with. Some employers offer it because it is cheaper for them than having staff off ill because of flu, in which case it's up to them whether they offer it to their staff or not.

The vaccine is recommended for elderly people and some people with asthma, diabetes, a heart condition or a reduced immune system. The flu vaccine is best given in early autumn and will only give immunity to those flu strains that are known about that year. It is very effective and has few serious side effects although many people get slight flu-like symptoms shortly after.