Cheshire East Council is urging people to get their flu jab as soon as possible because, whilst flu may not seem like a big deal to some it can lead to serious complications and illness.
Public Health England has identified that the people at increased risk of suffering from the flu are people over 65, pregnant women, people with underlying health conditions and parents of two and three-year-old children.
Health and social care workers are also urged to protect themselves, as well as their patients and clients by having the jab.
Councillor Janet Clowes, Cheshire East's Winter Wellbeing spokeswoman, said: "For most healthy people, flu is an unpleasant but usually self-limiting disease with recovery generally within a week.
"However, older people, the very young, pregnant women and those with underlying disease are at particular risk of severe illness if they catch flu.
"Every year, hundreds of thousands of people may see their GP and tens of thousands may be hospitalised because of flu each winter.
"Symptoms of flu can be very unpleasant and can last for several days – flu can lead to more serious complications like pneumonia and bronchitis which need hospital treatment.
"The best way to protect yourself and your family is to get the flu jab, so please contact your GP at the earliest opportunity and make an appointment. Please don't put it off or think it is not important."
Nationally, around 760 people were admitted to intensive care with complications of flu last year.
Sean Reynolds, Chairman of the Cheshire East Safeguarding Adults Board, said: "We believe safeguarding is everybody's responsibility.
"Encouraging neighbours, friends and relatives in the 'at risk' groups to take up the flu jab is a straightforward way of applying that principle."
Further resources and advice are available at www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/winter
