UK residents ‘overlooking importance of flu vaccination’

People in the UK have been reminded by the government of the need to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza.

Survey statistics released by the Department of Health have revealed that 87 percent of people would make sure to get the necessary jabs against tropical diseases before travelling abroad, but less than half of under-65s were vaccinated against flu last year.

This is despite the fact that 602 people died as a result of flu infection in 2010, with 70 percent of these fatalities occurring among patients in the 15 to 64 age range.

As such, the government has issued a call to action that coincides with the seasonal flu vaccine being made available for free to at-risk patient groups this week.

Chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said: "It takes five to ten days for the vaccine to take effect so I'd urge everyone in an at-risk group to get vaccinated as soon as they are able."

This comes after the government called for NHS hospital nurses and midwives to be vaccinated last month in order to help further curb the risk of infection.