Vaccine urged as number of swine flu cases trebles

WITH cases of swine flu more than trebling in a week, the Health Service Executive is urging those most at risk — pregnant women and those with an underlying illness — to get the seasonal flu vaccine.

A spokesperson for the health authority said the H1N1 virus strain was included in the seasonal flu vaccine that offered the best protection against swine flu.

“Anyone who has not already had the vaccine, particularly pregnant women and people with long-term health conditions, people aged 65 and their carers and healthcare workers should consider getting the vaccine,” he said.