I urge everyone at risk of getting flu to get their free vaccine before winter sets in. Last year 33,136 people missed out on protection last year across Stockport.
 
Also in Stockport last year:

• 12,735 older people missed out on their jab, and just 61.2% with long-term conditions were vaccinated.
• 13,754 working age people with long-term conditions didn’t get the vaccine.
• Thousands of 2-4 year olds also didn’t get the vaccine, including 177 classed as being at greater risk.
• 1,108 pregnant women with no long-term conditions and 88 pregnant women with long-term conditions also didn’t get protected.

Getting the flu can be bad enough for even the fittest of us, but getting the flu jab is easy, and offers the best chance of avoiding the flu that we have. I urge all those eligible to speak to your GP or local pharmacist and get your vaccination booked in.
 
This year, more people than ever – around 21 million - will be offered the vaccination. Children in school year 4 will be offered the vaccine for the first time and a £10m programme will also see a free vaccination offered to all care home workers.
 
NHS England’s National Medical Director for Acute Care, Professor Keith Willett, said: “Hospitals and GPs are preparing intensively for this winter, and we would remind people of the importance of having a flu vaccination. There are 21 million people eligible this year, but last year eight million people missed out and that is something we can all definitely change.”
 
More information on eligibility for the flu jab, and other tips on staying well this winter, can be found at www.nhs.uk/staywell.