This winter’s flu vaccination campaign in England will be the "largest ever", public health officials said yesterday.
There will be a fresh drive to persuade NHS staff to undergo vaccination, it was announced.
Last year just 54% of NHS employees accepted the flu vaccine.
There will also be a drive to vaccinate three million children between the ages of two and six with a view to preventing spread of disease.
Infants in 17,000 schools will be able to receive the vaccine as a nasal spray.
The launch of the campaign follows a series of setbacks. Contamination of some vaccine batches led to pilot schemes involving older children being put on hold – while it emerged that last year’s vaccine offered "slightly lower" protection than usual.
Chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said yesterday: "Let me be crystal clear – flu kills. For many people it is an unpleasant illness but for the most vulnerable in society it is extremely dangerous and can be lethal.
"Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from catching flu and I would urge everyone who is offered the vaccine free on the NHS to get vaccinated."
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