Over 65s in Devon urged to get flu jab

Last year 150 people in the South West were admitted to Intensive Care with flu

Public Health England have released the figures to try and encourage the over 65s to get their flu jabs. 

The vaccine this year is a new, improved one. 

Health officials say it could reduce GP consultations, hospitalisations and nationally up to 700 deaths.

Nearly 74% of over 65s in the South West had the vaccine last year. 

Dr Julie Yates, Lead Consultant in Screening and Immunisation for Public Health England South West, said:
“Our figures show that flu is not to be underestimated – every winter the virus makes hundreds of people seriously ill in the South West. While we can never fully predict how the virus will affect the population each year, the flu vaccine is the best protection we have against it.
“This is why we’re scaling up the programme this year by giving additional protection to as many eligible adults as possible and also offering it to more children.
“I encourage anyone who is eligible to take up the offer of their free vaccine; it is there to protect you and the rest of your family from a potentially very serious illness.”

The vaccination programme will also be improved by extending the nasal spray vaccine offered to primary school children in year 5 (650,000 extra children), meaning the vaccine will be offered to children in years reception, 1, 2,3, 4 and 5 this year. The programme will eventually roll out to all primary school children.

Dr Caroline Gamlin, Medical Director for NHS England in the South West, said:
“Last winter we saw a particularly harmful flu season and it placed a very serious burden on NHS resources. We know this year that staff will continue to do a fantastic job to ‘Help us Help You’ and minimise the spread of flu and help to protect those who are most vulnerable to the virus. The programme has been extended again to include staff who work in social care, including those who care for people in their homes and staff working in Hospice care, and so health and social care workers are also urged to take up the vaccine to protect themselves, their families and the patients they care for.”