Those in Macclesfield at risk of getting flu are being urged by local MP, David Rutley, to get their free vaccine jab before the onset of winter.
David welcomes the fact that flu vaccination rates continue to climb across the country, and that, last year, nearly 90,000 eligible Cheshire East residents got their free flu jab. However, there are still too many people who qualify for the free vaccination who do not take the opportunity to get one, including nearly 45,000 in the Borough in 2016.
Those already eligible for a free flu jab include: over-65s, working age people with long-term conditions, young children aged between two and four years old, and pregnant women. This year, children in year four will be offered the vaccine for the first time and children over age four in reception year can get their vaccine in school. A £10 million programme will also see free vaccinations offered to all care home workers via their GP or pharmacist.
The national drive to increase flu jab rates is part of the Public Health England and NHS England’s joint Stay Well This Winter campaign, which helps the most vulnerable people prepare for winter and avoid having to visit hospital due to common winter illnesses. It follows the Chief Medical Officer’s recent warning that flu and its associated complications cause 8,000 deaths on average a year in England, around 6,000 of which are people with existing heart and lung conditions. Official figures also show just under 2.9 million bed days were lost to flu and pneumonia last year in English hospitals, up 11 per cent increase from the previous year.
More information on eligibility for the flu jab, and other tips on staying well this winter, can be found at on the NHS’s website: www.nhs.uk/staywell
David said: “Getting the flu can be bad enough for even the fittest of us, but for older people and those with long-term conditions, in particular, it can cause serious health problems. It’s free and easy to get your flu jab, and taking action now will help to reduce pressures on the NHS later in the winter. I urge all those eligible in and around Macclesfield to speak to their GP or local pharmacist, and to get their vaccination booked in before the cold weather sets in.”