MP URGES BUCKS CONSTITUENTS TO STAY WELL THIS WINTER BY GETTING FREE FLU JAB
Chesham & Amersham ’ s MP , Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan , urges those in South Bucks who are at risk of flu to get their free vaccine jab before winter sets in . 73,462 people missed out on protection last year across the Buckinghamshire County Council area .
Cheryl Gillan ’ s call comes as the Chief Medical Officer warned that flu , and complications associated with it , cause 8,000 deaths on average a year in England - around 6,000 of which are people with existing heart and lung conditions .
In the Buckinghamshire County Council area last year
• 28,604 older people missed out on their jab , and among over-65s with a long-term condition ( which makes them more vulnerable to the effects of flu ) just 71 % were vaccinated .
• A further 29,557 working age people with long-term conditions also didn ’ t get the vaccine .
• Thousands of young children ( 2-4 year olds ) didn ’ t get the vaccine , including 256 who were classed as being at greater risk .
• 3259 pregnant women with no long-term conditions and 292 pregnant women with long-term conditions didn ’ t get protected .
Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan MP said : “ Getting the flu can be bad enough for even the fittest of us , but for older people and those with long-term conditions it can cause serious health problems .
“ Getting the flu jab is free and easy , and offers the best chance of avoiding the flu that we have . I ’ d therefore urge all those eligible – including all care home staff for the first time - 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 children over age 4 in reception year can get their vaccine in school .
A £ 10m programme will also see a free vaccination offered to all care home workers via their GP or pharmacist . Official figures show that older people are three times as likely to be admitted to hospital with flu if they live in a care home , with emergency flu and pneumonia admissions from care homes jumping by 16 % last year alone to around 29,000 .
The national drive marks the start 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 .
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
Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan MP , House of Commons , LONDON , SW1A 0AA hiyabucks . com | 23