London Bangla A Force for the community…
Winter is here, and that means that the flu virus is out and about looking for victims. It also means that we have the annual debate on whether to have a flu vaccine.
Vaccine debate
Much of the vaccine debate is informed by scare stories, many spread by people who have not had routine vaccines at school or in a health service and are… genuinely scared. The problem is that these scared people spread the disease. They are the ones who catch the flu and infect others at work, at school or on the bus. It’s not a case of whether you are man enough to risk catching flu, it’s a case of whether you are man enough not to make other people catch flu in order to indulge your fears. We need to spread vaccines round the community, not the flu.
Does it contain pork?
According to government guidance on the use of porcine gelatine (a stabiliser produced from pork) dated December 2025, flu vaccinations delivered by a needle do not contain pork or pig products.
These products do contain pork.
●Fluenz®, the nasal spray vaccine that protects children against flu
●MMR VaxPro®, a vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella
●ProQuad®, a vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox
The quandary for parents who do not allow their children to consume pork or pork products is that the free flu vaccine offered in schools is the nasal spray. Some parents seize this information and comfort themselves with the thought that they are observing their religion. Unfortunately, turning down the nasal spray leaves your children with no protection.
Parents who don’t want their children to have the nasal spray should talk to their school and their GP about whether their children can have the vaccine via an injection. The benefit of having the vaccination by injection is that the child is protected against flu, so you don’t have to watch your child suffering if they do catch flu. The vaccine also gives some protection against the common cold. Children may still catch colds, but these will usually be less severe than they are in children who have not been vaccinated, so children have less suffering and less time off school.
The other benefit of children having injected vaccinations is that they get more used to having vaccinations, so will have less fear about having other vaccines to protect them against serious illnesses or future pandemics.
The flu may not be the same type as the vaccine
Yes, there are several types of flu virus. Each year, clinicians look at what strains (kind) are most likely to be doing the rounds in the winter. They make up the vaccine to protect against those strains and get it out to GP surgeries and pharmacies by October.
If the strains of flu that do come round are different from the strains the vaccine was prepared to fight, that does not matter too much. Flu is flu, and all the vaccines will give some protection. Even if someone who has been vaccinated does catch the flu, their symptoms are likely to be less serious and the flu will last for a shorter time than in the case of someone who has not been vaccinated.
The flu vaccine will, in most people, reduce the number of colds you catch – and the severity of any colds that you do catch. It is no surprise, then, that the flu vaccine will protect against a wide range of flu viruses.
Who is eligible for a free flu vaccination?
Influenza (commonly known as “flu”) hits vulnerable people much harder than healthy people. Vulnerable people are eligible to get a free NHS vaccination. This stops them suffering from flu’s symptoms, which can be very difficult to go through. It also reduces the number of people who have to go to hospital because of flu. Yes, flu symptoms can be so dangerous that vulnerable people have to go to hospital.
Flu is also very contagious (easy to spread), so people who care for vulnerable people may also be eligible for a free vaccine.
I can’t get the vaccine because injections hurt
Injections don’t hurt. You feel a slight scratch. The injection site may feel a bit bruised for a couple of days.
There are very few women in East London who turn down medical help when they are pregnant. “Don’t take my blood pressure, I am OK to have this baby on my own.” There are few men who break a leg and turn down medical help because they prefer to see if their leg will mend on its own. The tiny scratch of an injection can save you days of feeling really sick and stop you infecting others. Trust the NHS and go get your vaccine now!
●People who are eligible for a free flu vaccine:
NHS advice on flu vaccine
●More information about pork products in vaccines:
Pork in vaccines
●Read more about it:
Deputy Mayor takes part in community health fare
Know your numbers – and look after yourself all year round
