POULTRY workers are being urged to have a flu jab to reduce the risk of them developing both bird and human flu.

Among other groups who should be immunised as part of this year’s immunisation campaign are pensioners and those in residential care homes, Health officials said. The annual initiative was launched on Friday and offers free jabs to household medical account (HMA) patients.

A spokesman for Health said that it was important that the most vulnerable Islanders contacted their GPs to arrange an appointment. He added that the vaccine was safe. ‘It cannot cause flu, but provides protection against flu and therefore helps the immune system to fight off other infections. Patients are encouraged to contact their GP to arrange vaccination,’ he said.

Dr Linda Dingle (pictured), the immunisation nurse specialist at Health, said: ‘Flu is spread by respiratory droplets in the air produced by coughing or sneezing either directly or indirectly, for example by hand to eye-to-mouth contact after touching the respiratory droplets on another person or object. It is more severe that other common cold-type illnesses seen in winter.’