Call for high-risk groups to get flu jab

HEALTH protection officials yesterday advised the elderly and those with severe illness to get vaccinated after a doubling of flu cases nationwide in the last fortnight.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) issued the alert for high-risk groups after regular updates from general practitioners around the country noted a sharp increase in influenza-like cases.

“As influenza is now circulating in the community, it is important that people in high-risk categories get vaccinated against influenza,” said the HPSC’s specialist in public health medicine, Dr Joan O’Donnell.