Health officials are encouraging pregnant women, children and the elderly to come forward for the flu jab this winter amid growing concern about the low levels of uptake.
Experts believe the main strain of the illness in circulation this year is more likely to infect children and young people so are leading an appeal to those at risk to consider taking adequate precautions to protect themselves.
Last year resulted in 15,000 deaths from the virus – one of the highest numbers of flu-related deaths in the last decade.
The latest figures show take up is significantly lower than this time last year, in most groups including pregnant women, pensioners as well as younger adults with health conditions, such as asthma and diabetes.
During pregnancy, women and their unborn babies are at higher risk of complications from flu because of reduced immunity.
Just 40 per cent of pregnant women have had the jab so far this year, compared with 43 per cent this time last year, with almost identical trends seen among adults with health conditions.
Take-up is higher among those aged over 65 – at 65.4 per cent – by the week ending November 25, but it is still significantly down compared to the same period last year when it had reached 69.1 per cent.
Here at Harrow HealthCare Centre, we have a healthy stock of vaccines to help protect against many strains of the virus including quadrivalent flu, fluad flu and nasal flu for children.
Call us on 0208 861 1221 today to book your appointment.
