A poem composed by Monton rhymer Jenny Berry which spells out the dangers of contracting flu and appealing for people to take up their free flu jab is being used in Salford this winter. Salford City Council and Salford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are hoping the unusual approach will help spread the message and encourage take up of the vaccination. Last year less than half of pregnant women, carers, and people with long-term heart, lung, kidney disease and other conditions took up the offer, leaving them at serious risk from flu.
Councillor Lisa Stone, executive lead member for health and wellbeing, said: “As Jenny’s poem says, flu isn’t just a very bad cold. Even if you are fit and healthy, flu can land you in bed for several days and make you feel ill for a month. If you already have a health condition and catch flu you could end up in hospital.”
“Pregnant women also run the risk of complications or even miscarriage so it really isn’t something to take lightly. I’d urge anyone who is invited for a free flu jab to take it up. It’s a few minutes of your life that could really pay off each year.”
Jenny’s poem – where the first letter of every line spells out FLUJAB – makes the point that flu can be life threatening and isn’t something to be taken lightly.
“When I started researching the side effects of flu, I was shocked at how dangerous flu is,” said Jenny, who has been writing poems since she was 15 years old.
“I wanted to do my bit to help spread the word not flu this winter.”
Dr Hamish Stedman, GP at The Lakes Medical Centre in Swinton and chair of Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We really can’t stress how important it is to get the flu vaccination.
“Even if you had the jab last year, you still need to get vaccinated this winter to stay protected. It’s a free vaccination because people with long term health conditions, the over 65s and pregnant women need it.”
“So, if you’ve had a letter from your GP and yet to make your appointment, please see your doctor or local pharmacist ASAP and help us prevent a flu epidemic in Salford.”
Last year people aged 65 or over heeded the warning and took up the vaccination but only 56% of people under 65, 42% of pregnant women and carers and less than 40% of children aged two and three actually had the vaccination. There was particularly low take up in areas such as Broughton, Lower Kersall, Ordsall, Langworthy and Irwell.
Jenny’s poem
Don’t be a fluzy!
Flu isn’t a cold. It’s
Life threatening, it’s bold. An
Unborn child could be affected
Jabs stop the unexpected.
A flu jab is free of cost
Because many lives have been lost.
© jenny berry bespoke poetry 2015
