THOUSANDS of people in the South West with long-term health conditions are being urged to get their flu vaccine, as figures reveal uptake remains concerningly low among those most at risk.

Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed that last year, just 45.8 per cent (411,629) of people under 65 with certain long-term health conditions in the South West were vaccinated against the flu last season.

This means 487,554 people in the region who were eligible remained unprotected, despite being at significantly higher risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and even death from flu.

The figures come as UKHSA warns that flu can be particularly dangerous for people with conditions including chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological conditions, and immunosuppression.

For some clinical groups, the risk of flu-related death compared with the general population is stark: 48 times higher for those with chronic liver disease, 47 times higher for those with immunosuppression, and 40 times higher for those with chronic neurological disease.

Across the South West’s local authorities, vaccine uptake varies considerably.

outh Gloucestershire had the highest uptake at 51.6%, with 21,571 people vaccinated. Meanwhile, Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch had the lowest at 39.6%, with just 23,584 of 59,574 eligible people protected.

Other areas with uptake below the regional average include Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (41.2%), Plymouth (41.9%), Torbay (42.5%) and Bristol (43.2%).

Dr Fiona Neely, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA South West, said: ‘Every year we see many people across the South West with long-term health conditions ending up seriously ill in hospital from flu, and tragically some dying, when for most this could be prevented with a vaccine.

‘If you have a long-term health condition like diabetes, asthma, heart disease, kidney disease or a condition affecting your immune system, you are eligible for a free flu vaccine.

‘With nearly half a million people in our region still unprotected, I urge everyone eligible to come forward now.

‘The flu vaccine offers the best protection against serious illness, and it is not too late to get vaccinated.

‘Please don’t put it off. Speak to your GP or pharmacist today and get yourself protected’.

Estimates every year of excess winter deaths potentially attributable to influenza in England are published in the annual national flu reports[2] and range from less than 1,000 (2013 to 2014) to greater than 20,000 (2014 to 2015 and 2017 to 2018).