Flu jab campaign now underway

The Public Health Agency is urging all those in the ‘at risk’ category to get their vaccine when invited to do so.

This year, all pregnant women are being offered the vaccination, regardless of their stage of pregnancy.

Dr Lorraine Doherty, Assistant Director of Public Health (Health Protection) says: “Everyone who receives an invitation to be vaccinated against flu should see it as a positive step in protecting their health and the health of others around them.

“The seasonal flu vaccination programme specifically targets ‘at risk’ groups because they are more likely to have severe illness and/or develop complications if they get flu, such as pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.”

The influenza vaccine will protect against the three strains which are predicted to be most prevalent this autumn.

The H1N1 (swine flu) virus is likely to be one of the dominant flu viruses again this winter and so has been included as part of the vaccine.