Health experts in Oxfordshire are battling to prevent unnecessary deaths this winter by persuading people to have flu jabs.

They want high risk patients - especially those over 75 years of age - to book their annual influenza vaccination appointment before it is too late.

Each year, thousands of people are admitted to the county's hospitals with flu or flu-like illnesses, which can lead to complications such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Even in years when little influenza is circulating, 4,000 to 6,000 deaths occur nationally each winter, mainly in the elderly.

Dr Kathy Cann, a consultant in communicable disease control with Oxfordshire Health Authority, said: "It's vitally important that everyone who should have the vaccine is given it. Having the jab is a very quick and simple way of saving lives.

"The treatment is straightforward and involves a small injection given by the GP or practice nurse. "Patients will be asked to wait in the surgery for about 20 minutes afterwards to ensure there has been no adverse reaction.

"We know that one in five high-risk people are not aware about the vaccination, or don't think about being vaccinated. Flu strains change each year, which means a different vaccine is available each year to target the specific strains." The Department of Health strongly recommends the influenza vaccine for people with chronic respiratory disease, including asthma; chronic heart disease; chronic renal failure; diabetes mellitus; immune suppression due to disease or treatment; people living in nursing and residential homes, or other long-stay facilities.

People falling into these groups are urged to contact their local GP's surgery to arrange a vaccination.

Story date: Wednesday 20 October

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