At risk groups urged to get vaccinated

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is reminding people who are eligible for a flu jab to take up the offer of vaccination.

Figures from the HPA’s latest Weekly National Influenza Report show that 61 per cent of people aged 65 or over, 16 per cent of pregnant women and 37 per cent of people under the age of 65 who are entitled to immunisation because they are in a clinical risk group, have been vaccinated to date.

Getting vaccinated now will provide important protection against the strains of flu that are expected to be circulating over the winter months. Last winter 602 flu deaths were reported to the HPA. Seven out of 10 people who died from flu were in an “at risk” group.

Pregnant women are at greater risk of hospitalisation and death following flu than the population as a whole. Last winter, nine pregnant women were reported to have died following a confirmed flu infection.

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Immunisation Lead for HPA North West, said: “If you are in one of the clinical at risk groups or if you are a health care worker or someone who looks after vulnerable people in a residential care home, it is advisable for you to be immunised as soon as possible.”

Dr Richard Pebody, head of flu surveillance at the HPA, said: “Seasonal flu can be very serious and results in between two and five thousand excess deaths each year. GPs are now inviting those in a clinical at-risk group to be vaccinated. Please ensure you take up the offer as soon as possible to reduce your risk of serious complications from flu.

“Very little flu is currently being seen in the UK but those who need to get vaccinated should not delay, as flu is expected to increase as usual during the coming winter months”.

The following are eligible for flu vaccination: people aged 65 or older, pregnant women – at any stage of pregnancy, people who live in residential care homes, carers of people who are elderly or infirm, health and social care workers, people of any age with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, kidney disease, chronic asthma and diabetes that requires medication and people with lowered immunity to infection as a result of illness or treatment, such as people with HIV infection or those on steroid treatment or cancer drugs