Flu vaccine plea amid rising hospital admissions

Health chiefs in Staffordshire have urged people eligible to get the vaccine

People eligible for the free flu vaccine in Staffordshire have been urged to get the jab amid an increasing number of hospital cases.

Only half of people in the county aged over 65 have had the vaccine so far, meaning almost 76,000 were missing out, according to the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB)

It said more than 12,000 people with long-term health conditions and compromised immune systems had also not had the free vaccine.

"Flu can be far more serious than many people realise, particularly for older adults and those living with long-term health conditions," Matthew Missen, consultant in public health at the ICB, said.

"With the early arrival of flu spreading in the population, we are sadly already seeing increasing numbers of people admitted to hospital severely unwell due to flu infection."

The free vaccine is available for people most at risk of getting seriously ill with the disease, including people aged over 65, care home residents and those with certain health conditions.

Anyone eligible is urged to contact their GP surgery, book an appointment online or via the NHS app, or attend a drop-in session.