The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all those in ‘at-risk’ groups, who have not yet been vaccinated against flu, to get the jab now. The advice is being given because flu is circulating later than normal this year with cases occurring within nursing and care home settings in recent weeks.
While there have been high uptake rates of the vaccine this year, there are still a small number of ‘at-risk’ people who have not yet received the free vaccine.
Initially this bulletin will be released on a bi-weekly basis. However once flu activity begins to increase it will be produced every week.
Influenza weekly surveillance bulletin Week 17 - 18 (23 April - 6 May 2012)
Influenza weekly surveillance bulletin Week 16 (16 - 22 April 2012)
Women can find they are bombarded with advice during their pregnancy and face making tough choices about what is best for them and their baby.
However, one Northern Ireland mum-to-be said her decision to get the flu jab this year required no debating at all.
“It was crystal clear to me that I absolutely had to get vaccinated against the flu as I now fall into an at risk group due to being pregnant, despite being otherwise in excellent health,” explained Colleen McVeigh originally from Armagh but now living in Glengormley, Newtownabbey.