Health chiefs in Bradford and Airedale say they are confident they have enough seasonal flu vaccines to protect those who need it most.

The reassurance comes as the Government yesterday admitted flu vaccination shortages were occurring in other parts of the country.

Interim figures reveal that in Bradford and Airedale 71.8 per cent of over 65s and 46 per cent of the at-risk group, which includes pregnant women, have been vaccinated so far.

This compares to the figures in January, 2010, of 74.7 per cent for over 65s and 51.8 per cent for the at-risk group.

Nationally, at the end of December 67.2 per cent of over 65s had taken up the offer of a flu jab and 41.5 per cent in the at-risk group.

A spokesman for NHS Bradford and Airedale said not everyone who was invited for a vaccination at the start of the flu season had taken up the offer, but with more people getting ill and national publicity, GPs were seeing a late response.

The spokesman said it was the responsibility of GP practices to order the flu vaccine and the amount ordered is based on the previous year’s uptake and the number of people on the clinical at-risk register.

  • The Health Protection Agency said today that 11 more people had died from flu across the UK in the past week, taking the total to 50.