Take the flu jab, Health Ministry urges public

The Healthy Ministry has urged the public to take the flu vaccine, saying that the seasonal influenza could give rise to complications.

In a statement, the ministry said it was following what was happening abroad and would keep the public informed if more precautions needed to be taken.

Parts of Europe have started to see increases in the incidence of influenza, with the swine flu strain reported to be the dominant one among those in circulation in the UK. Parts of the US and Canada have also reported higher levels.

The ministry appealed to people to stay at home if they felt sick and reminded them about the importance of washing their hands regularly.

The government ordered about 85,000 jabs this year at a cost of €250,750. Between 2005 and 2009, a total of 475,000 jabs were ordered but 57,136 of them had to be dumped.

Influenza spreads quickly and the most vulnerable are the elderly and people with medical conditions who could suffer from several complications, including pneumonia. It is estimated that, in the EU, the flu kills between 20,000 and 40,000 people each year.

The seasonal flu jab is available at primary health centres and most local councils.