With more than 1.5million flu vaccinations already given to people in the Midlands, the flu programme will get an added boost this week with the launch of the winter vaccination advertising campaign.

Messaging urging people with long term health conditions to Stay Strong Get Vaccinated will appear on poster sites and online as well as on local radio.

People do not realise they are at greater risk of becoming ill from flu if they have long term health conditions such as heart, kidney and lung disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, neurological conditions or have weakened immune systems.

The advertising, which includes social media and leaflets for pharmacies to give out, features people wearing pieces of armour as an analogy for the protection the flu vaccine gives. Stay Strong Get Vaccinated Long-Term Health Conditions Flu Campaign | Vaccinations | Campaign Resource Centre

Dr Ash Banerjee, Public Health Consultant with NHS England said, ‘It has been a strong start to the flu vaccination season with take up among pregnant women and those people aged 65 plus especially strong.

‘Not everyone with a chronic health condition realises this makes them at greater risk of serious illness from flu. But for instance, people with diabetes are around six times more likely to die from flu and those with heart disease around 11 times more likely.

‘We hope this messaging will help encourage more people who really do need the vaccine to come forward.’

If you are over 65, or have a long term health condition, or have a child at school, are pregnant, or parent to a two or three year old child, you can find out how to get a flu vaccination at https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/vaccination-and-booking-services/book-flu-vaccination/

As well as flu vaccination clinics at GP surgeries, pharmacies are offering vaccinations for children and adults and immunisation teams are visiting primary and secondary schools to vaccinate children with their parents’ consent.

Mums to be should protect themselves and their babies from the serious effects of flu by asking their GP or their maternity service for the vaccination, or alternatively by going into any local pharmacy offering NHS flu vaccinations.