Attempts to persuade the ‘at-risk’ groups to go in for their winter flu jabs are apparently full on in the Scotland, with the health authorities urging pregnant women to get the vaccine at the earliest!

Along with targeting the mother-to-be for the winter flu jab as part of the ongoing flu campaign this year, the authorities are also offering the vaccine to patients who are suffering from medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes; as well as the over-65 patients and the NHS frontline staff and voluntary care-givers.

This year, the winter flu jab – which is now available from GP practices – offers protection against H1N1 swine flu and two other strains of flu.

In an attempt to encourage the ‘at-risk’ people to come forward and get vaccinated, the flu campaign this time round is marked by the availability of public information leaflets, along with advertisements on the TV and radio.

The notably intensified flu campaign this year is apparently an upshot of the fact that 63 flu-related deaths were reported in Scotland hospitals last winter; with several more people believed to have died in the community due to flu infection.

About encouraging pregnant women to get the “safe and effective” winter flu jab, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said that midwives across Scotland will be “working to ensure all pregnant women know about the dangers of flu and go to their GP to get vaccinated”!