Health chiefs want you to get the jab done and protect yourself

NHS chiefs are urging Sefton residents who are eligible for the flu jab to make sure that they are protected.

Leading health figures from Sefton Council, NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG are urging pregnant women, all children aged two to four, children in years 1-3 at school, residents of all ages with a long term health condition and everyone aged 65 and over to take up their free flu vaccinations.

Most people who are eligible can get vaccinated at their local GP practice and parents with children in years 1-3 will be asked for permission for them to receive the nasal spray vaccination at school.

While most people can recover from flu in about a week, each winter, tens of thousands of people in England end up in hospital because of flu with hundreds dying from a complication of seasonal flu.

This is because some people are at a much greater risk from the serious effects of flu, including pregnant women, the very young, people of any age with health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, weakened immune systems, and older people.