RECORD numbers of Wiltshire people have taken the offer of a free flu jab, with more than 57,000 flu vaccinations already administered to elderly and frail people across the country.

Since the national campaign was launched in October, the 93 GP surgeries across Wiltshire have been busy hosting special flu vaccination clinics and contacting patients who are over 65 or in certain at risk groups.

The result shows Wiltshire is well up with national targets. This year the Depart-ment of Health aimed to reach 65 per cent and latest figures for October and Novem-ber show Wiltshire has reached around 64 per cent.

Wiltshire Health Authority Infection Control nurse Janet McCulloch is delighted with the results and the hard work carried out with special clinics at surgeries.

But she says there are still many people at risk who have not taken up the offer of a free flu jab.

"It is not too late. Last year national figures showed most cases of flu occurred in January and February so it makes sense to be prepared and take all the precautions we can.

"Because flu viruses adapt and change, the vaccine available in the autumn is effective on those strains that are most likely to cause outbreaks here, so it is vital to get immunised every year," she said.

The Department of Health has now distributed extra vaccine supplies for another tranche of the flu vaccination campaign.

The NHS Walk In Centre in Carfax Street, Swindon, has received 2,700 vaccine doses and will now be administering flu jabs to callers who are over 65 or in the risk groups.

The centre is also able to offer flu vaccine to people working directly with patients or clients in health and social care, if they do not have an occupational health department in their workplace.