From coughs to complications such as pneumonia – get your flu jabs now

FLU cases will surge this year now we are socialising again – and because many of us are no longer wearing masks or using hand sanitiser.

Much like Covid, influenza is an airborne virus transmitted by coughing, sneezing or being in close proximity to infected people.

It can kill up to 25,000 a year in England. We should be booking in for flu jabs now as autumn begins and we start to spend more time indoors – and the spreading risk increases.

Experts fear that a combination of flu and Covid could be deadly and are urging people to have the vaccine.

The Sun on Sunday’s Dr Jeff Foster said: “Flu is not a cold.

“It causes fevers, sweats, chills, joint pains and muscle aches, headaches, low energy and tiredness.

“It can also result in a cough and the introduction of secondary infections such as pneumonia.

“It can last for a few weeks and is utterly draining. In those people with other health problems, or who are more frail, flu can be fatal.

The only way to prevent this risk is by getting the flu vaccine.

“This year it is particularly important because Covid is still present.

Having both together could – even in a healthy, fit young adult – make them feel extremely ill and at a higher risk of going into hospital.

“The flu vaccine has been used for nearly 100 years and some people can get it free. See the NHS website for details.

“True complications of the flu vaccine are very rare.

“People say it can make them feel tired or achy but it can’t ever cause flu because it is an ‘inactivated virus’.

“If you truly get sick at the time of the vaccine, you will have had another virus as well and the vaccine just made your immune system work harder.”