I’ve had my flu jab, have you? – Linda Rose

Protect yourself, your family and your community.

My name is Linda Rose and I’m the Assistant Director of Nursing at
Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Some of my colleagues may know that I was diagnosed with a life-threatening breast cancer in 2011. As a consequence, I was prescribed chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which compromised my immune system, making me more at risk of catching influenza.

2011 was the year that healthcare professionals persuaded me that having the flu jab could actually help to save my life…and surprisingly, I did need persuading! I hadn’t signed up for it before. I thought some of the myths were true – especially the one about the flu vaccine giving you flu!

But I wasn’t going to let cancer beat me, so why would I let flu? I learned that it was safe to have the vaccine, even when I was having cancer treatment.

Resistance to infection can remain low for some months or years following treatment and I’ve continued to have the flu jab ever since.

Importantly, as a healthcare professional, I take my responsibilities seriously. I’m from a BME background and I know that BME groups and the patient groups we serve have a higher prevalence of long-term health conditions such as diabetes and asthma which puts them in the at-risk group category.

The flu vaccine is the single best defence we have against flu.

Please have your jab today!

Linda Rose
Assistant Director of Nursing