Doctors are urging people over 65, pregnant women, children aged two, three or four and anyone suffering from a long-term condition to roll up their sleeves and arm themselves against flu with a free jab as part of the national vaccination programme this winter.
Stafford and Surrounds Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is backing Public Health England’s seasonal campaign and encouraging at-risk groups to take up the offer of a free vaccination and help prevent the spread of the virus.
Chair of the CCG’s Membership Board and Clinical Leader, Dr Paddy Hannigan, said: “Catching flu can be an unpleasant experience even for relatively healthy people, but older people, the very young, pregnant women and those with an underlying condition or disease are at risk of severe illness if they catch flu and should take every steps to protect themselves.
“Flu is more than just a bad cold. It can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses, especially for the elderly and those with long term or chronic conditions and in the worst cases, flu can result in a hospital stay, and even death. The free flu jab is the best way to protect yourself against catching virus, even if you have had it before because the types of virus in circulation change yearly, as does the vaccine, so it is vitally important you get the jab every winter.”
In winter 2013/14, more than 900 people across the country were admitted to hospital with confirmed cases of flu, with 11 per cent of all patients admitted dying as a result of the virus.
