New flu jab campaign (From Hereford Times)

New flu jab campaign

9:40am Monday 6th July 2009 in

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PEOPLE in Herefordshire who risk complications after flu are being offered a new vaccine.

It won’t protect against flu but could prevent it from developing into other serious illnesses such as pneumonia.

NHS Herefordshire has launched a campaign to persuade people to have the jab and those eligible will be getting letters inviting them to make an appointment with their GP.

Dr Akeem Ali, director of public health, said the campaign had been stepped up because of swine flu and the fact that swine flu vaccine was not yet available.

The campaign, which runs until the end of August, will target:

■ Children over the age of 14 months but under two years who have not had a complete course of pneumococcal vaccine as a part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme.

■ All people between two and 64 years in the clinical risk groups (including NHS frontline healthcare staff within risk groups).

“I would strongly urge those who are vulnerable to complications from flu to take up this opportunity to make sure they have a complete course of pneumococcal vaccine,” said Dr Ali.