Doctors warn of flu crisis

GP (General practitioner) leaders said that because fewer people in “at-risk groups” are receiving the seasonal flu jab, Britain is facing a major flu crisis this winter. The British Medical Association (BMA) said that the increased efforts by the government and the National Health Service (NHS) are needed to persuade people to get immunized and dispel the “myths” surrounding the jab. The BMA is concerned that people whose health is vulnerable, like elderly people, pregnant women and patients with asthma, diabetes, chronic heart conditions and cancer, could get seasonal flu. The GPs are reporting that fewer of their ‘at-risk’ patients (just 40%) are coming forward to be immunized this year. The BMA asked the government to step up the public awareness campaign for seasonal flu immunization. The publicity campaign needs to encourage patients classed as “at risk” to have the jab, and highlight the risks involved in not doing so. Members of the various at-risk groups could become seriously ill if they do not protect themselves. Fourteen out of 17 people did not have the seasonal flu jab. The flu already claimed 17 lives since October, although many died from the swine flu strain.

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GPs are reporting high rates of seasonal flu,
according to the British Medical Association

I am surprised that just 40% of the people at the “at-risk groups” have received the seasonal flu jab. The flu can be dangerous, especially for those people. I think it is good to step up the campaign, to make people especially at the “at-risk groups” more aware of the risk they take if they do not get the flu jab. I hope the campaign will encourage them to take the jab.

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/17/doctors-warn-flu-crisis