AS winter approaches NHS Guildford and Waverley Clincical Commissioning Group are keen to encourage residents with a health condition, carers and pregnant women to have a flu vaccination which they can arrange with GP practices or with community pharmacies.

For most people, flu is an infectious illness that can be spread quickly but usually individuals recover within a week.

But older people, the very young, pregnant women and those with a health condition, particularly chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart, kidney or liver disease, or those who have a weakened immune system are at particular risk from the more serious effects of flu.

Getting flu on top of a long-term health condition can develop into something more serious. If you are a carer it is important you get a flu vaccine to enable you to carry out your critical role. Flu vaccinations are free for certain groups; check with your GP practice to see if you are eligible.

Medical director Jonathan Inglesfield said: “It is vital those who are eligible have the vaccine as it protects against different strains of the flu which can change and evolve each year.

“The vaccine is the best protection we have against an unpredictable virus.”

Children are most likely to spread flu to others and a free vaccination is now available for two to seven year-olds. Pupils in years one, two and three receive a free nasal spray vaccination instead of an injection.