Vulnerable people are encouraged to get themselves vaccinated after a reported rise in flu activity across the country, including the North West.
Public Health England (PHE) is asking those at risk of catching the flu to make an appointment to be vaccinated.
Dr Andrew McAlavey, medical director for the Chester-based West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “With the rise in flu numbers across the region, vulnerable people are at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell if they catch flu, so we are reminding those who fall into the ‘at risk’ groups, who have not done so already, to book in with their local surgery for an appointment for a flu jab.”
“By ‘at risk’, this is pregnant women, young children, those aged over 65 and people with long-term conditions.”
Vaccine in best protection against flu
Virus surveillance carried out by PHE has shown that the H1N1 strain is now the main seasonal flu virus and those viruses characterised this season are well-matched to the vaccine strain.
Dr McAlavey added: “The vaccine is the best protection against flu and plays a key role in keeping vulnerable people as healthy as possible through the winter.
“Maintaining good cough and hand hygiene, such as covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, disposing of the tissue as soon as possible and cleaning your hands can help prevent the spread of germs.”
Visit www.nhs.uk/staywell for more information. You can also follow @WestCheshireCCG or #StayWellThisWinter through Twitter.
