05.11.12
Department of Health plans for winter
A flu vaccination advertising campaign has begun today, aimed at improving on last year’s vaccination rates. The current rates for some at-risk groups are behind where they were at the same point last year.
The Department of Health wants to guard against any possible false sense of security following a mild winter last year.
David Salisbury, DH director of immunisation, said: “You are 11 times more likely to die from flu if you are pregnant or have a serious health condition and each year thousands of people die after catching flu. That’s why we are reminding people who are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of flu to get the vaccine.”
The Cold Weather Plan, jointly run with the Met Office and Health Protection Agency, advises people on how to stay healthy and supports local communities and professionals to better prepare for and respond to severe cold weather events.
A £20 million fund, distributed among local authorities, will help vulnerable people in their areas stay warm and well this winter.
Public health minister Anna Soubry said: “We have taken the decision this year to run a flu campaign because too many people in at risk groups have not come forward for the jab yet, although local campaigns have been running for the past month. People may be lulled into a false sense of security about the seriousness of flu following a mild winter last year. The national campaign will build on the local ‘flu safe’ campaigns that have been running.
“Our campaign aims to encourage people who are most at risk from flu, who have put it off or who don’t think it is important, to get the vaccine. If pregnant women are vaccinated, they not only protect themselves but also protect their newborn babies from catching flu.”
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