Warning over flu risk (From Salisbury Journal)
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Warning over flu risk
3:15pm Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News
A Fordingbridge doctor has urged people at greatest risk from flu to protect themselves and their families.
Dr Toby Wallis of the Fordingbridge Surgery is worried that some patients in higher risk groups are putting their lives at risk by not getting a flu vaccine.
Adults and children with chronic forms of heart disease; kidney disease; lung disease including asthma; liver disease; and diabetes, are up to 40 times more likely to die of flu than other people of the same age. He said: “Patients in this age group seem to be unaware of the risk and there is a low take up of the flu vaccine in these groups.
“As few as 40 per cent of these groups are attending their GP surgery for these vaccines.”
Pregnant women have been added to the flu vaccination program in light of evidence that shows both mum and baby are more vulnerable to flu.
Appointments can be booked for Saturday, October 20 and Saturday, November at the Fordingbridge Surgery.
Patients of other surgeries will need to contact their own GP.
