CHEAT THE FLU THIS YEAR

Use your FREE Fedhealth flu vaccination benefit to stay healthy this winter

As a Fedhealth member, you and your dependants have a FREE flu vaccination benefit that’s paid from Risk*, and not your Savings or MediVault and Wallet. The flu vaccine will be available SOON!

Why should you get the flu vaccination?

Getting an annual flu vaccination is your best defence against the flu virus, and goes a long way towards reducing hospital admissions and even deaths. Due to slight changes in the genetic material of the influenza viruses A and B, new virus strains emerge each year. So, last year’s flu shot won’t protect you against this year’s viruses.

The flu vaccine is even more important if:

• You’re 65 or older (members in retirement homes are at higher risk)
• You have a heart problem, such as heart failure
• You suffer from a respiratory problem, such as asthma or emphysema
• You have another chronic illness such as anaemia, diabetes or kidney failure
• Your immune system is compromised (e.g. you’re HIV-positive, you’re receiving long-term corticosteroid treatment, or you’re receiving radiation and/or chemotherapy)
• You’ve been hospitalised or treated for chronic illness in the last year
• You’re in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy (pregnancy can increase your risk for serious medical complications from influenza)
• You’re in the first trimester of pregnancy and you have a medical condition that increases your risk for complications
• You care for the ill at, for example, a nursing home or another facility that provides care for chronically ill persons
• You’re in close contact with a high-risk individual
• You’re planning to travel to the tropics at any time or to the northern hemisphere between October and February
• You’re a community service provider (e.g. police officer, paramedic or fire-fighter).

Children and teens in the high-risk group include:

• Children between six and 23 months – their immunity against diseases is low while their exposure rate is high (especially if they attend a crèche)
• Children with chronic heart or lung disorders, including asthma
• Children with chronic illnesses, as well as those who’ve required hospitalisation or regular visits to the doctor during the preceding year
• Children who live with someone in a high-risk group
• Children and teenagers (six months to 18 years) on long-term aspirin therapy

Think you’ve got the flu? Look out for these symptoms:

• A high fever (higher than 39°C) with chills
• Dry cough and sore throat
• Blocked or runny nose
• Sweating and shivering
• Muscle aches and pains
• Fatigue and wanting to sleep all day

When to see a doctor:

• If you have a high fever that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medicine, or that lasts longer than two days; or
• If you just don’t seem to be getting better, have a chesty cough, feel a sharp pain when coughing, or have difficulty when breathing.

To get better you must take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor, stay in bed, drink lots of fluids and rest to give your body time to fight the infection.

Get your flu vaccination from your doctor, pharmacy or clinic and prevent the flu getting you down this winter!

Please note that this information does not refer to Coronavirus (COVID-19) or how treatment is covered. However, getting the flu vaccination this year can be especially beneficial, to help alleviate the possible burden that could potentially be placed by COVID-19 on South Africa’s healthcare facilities.

For more information about Coronavirus, please click here.