Westminster Flu Day 2010

October 19th, 2010

MPs and Peers were today offered seasonal flu vaccinations, in line with Government recommendations, in a bid to encourage their constituents to be vaccinated against flu for this 2010/11 season. 

“The seasonal flu vaccination is important to help protect those people who are more susceptible to serious complications from flu”, said Margot James, MP.  “I would encourage all those that are over the age of 65 or are in one of the ‘at risk’ groups to visit their surgeries and get vaccinated,” she added.

Dr George Kassianos, a GP and Fellow and Immunisation Lead of the Royal College of GPs, said “Thankfully the recent pandemic was not as bad as feared, but we must remember that normal seasonal flu still remains a threat, particularly for people aged over 65 and those deemed to be ‘at risk’, for whom it can be a pretty nasty and serious illness.  I would encourage everyone at risk to get their annual flu jab.”

The Department of Health provides free seasonal flu vaccinations for at risk groups, which include those aged 65 or over; people with chronic respiratory disease (including asthma), heart, renal, liver or neurological disease; diabetes; low immune systems; as well as people living in long-stay facilities such as nursing and residential homes, and carers of elderly or disabled people.

The initiative is sponsored by the UK Vaccine Industry Group (UVIG) and is supported by the Department of Health as a useful way to highlight the importance of flu vaccination.