83% of asthma sufferers intend to take flu jab 

Rachel Murray. who has severe asthma, is calling on people to take the flu vaccine. Picture courtesy Asthma Society of Ireland 

A survey of people with asthma has found 83% of them intend to take the flu vaccine this year, with almost one in eight saying they took the jab last year for the first time.

Up to mid-April last year, 103 influenza deaths were reported and during the 2018/2019 flu season, 97 people died. The 2017 season saw 261 deaths, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).