Poor take-up in flu vaccinations prompts stark health warning

Latest figures from GP surgeries in North Yorkshire have revealed the uptake among pregnant women and the under-65s deemed to be “at risk” from seasonal flu is dramatically lower than expected.

The statistics have shown that just 12 per cent of pregnant women have been vaccinated when the primary care trust, NHS North Yorkshire and York, is aiming to hit a target of 75 per cent ahead of the onset of the main flu season.

And only 37 per cent of patients aged under 65 with conditions including heart disease, diabetes and asthma as well as multiple sclerosis and serious kidney and liver disease have been given a flu jab.

The problems are being compounded by the vast rural tracts of North Yorkshire as health chiefs battle to get the message out to remote communities about the crucial need to get flu jabs.

Publicity campaigns in recent years appear to have had some success in capturing the attention of the over-65s as 62 per cent of pensioners have been given a vaccination - although this is still considerably lower than the 75 per cent target.

NHS North Yorkshire and York’s interim director of public health, Dr Phil Kirby, said: “Those people who are more at risk from flu should have the vaccine because they are not able to fight it off as easily as others.

“For them, flu can often result in serious complications, sometimes requiring hospital admission, or even be life-threatening.

“Anyone over the age of 65 is eligible for the flu jab and we have seen a good uptake from this group so far.

“People under 65 that meet certain criteria are also entitled to a free flu jab. So far we have seen a lower uptake from this group and we are appealing to them to make sure they get themselves protected from a potentially serious dose of the flu.”

The worrying trend has emerged after the Government published an action plan to reduce the number of deaths during the winter months.

Mortality rates in England rise by 19 per cent during the winter every year, accounting for 27,000 extra deaths between December and March.

It has been estimated that the annual cost to the NHS for treating winter-related diseases due to cold private housing is more than £850m.

Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies, the Government’s principal medical adviser, has called on relatives and neighbours to help with the care of the most vulnerable members of society.

Free flu jabs are also available to anyone who is the main carer for an elderly or disabled relative whose welfare may be at risk if they fall ill. The offer of free vaccinations is also aimed at preventing the carer from transmitting flu to the relative they are looking after.

The Government’s national action plan will provide cold weather alerts via the Met Office which will mirror a heatwave plan that has been operating for seven years.

The Yorkshire Post revealed in 2009 that Dame Sally’s predecessor, Sir Liam Donaldson, had warned that a worldwide outbreak of flu poses as great a risk to national security as the threat of global warming or terrorist strikes.

He admitted that the impact of a flu pandemic would be “severe” and would cause massive disruption to Britain’s infrastructure.

Health chiefs in North Yorkshire have undertaken concerted awareness campaigns in recent years to encourage more people to have a flu jab, especially anyone aged 65 and over.

It is estimated there will be 50 per cent more people over 65 living in North Yorkshire by 2020 – a quarter of the total population. In 2001 the over-65s represented only 18 per cent.

More information about the flu jab is available at www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu-jab