HEALTH bosses at the council are urging anybody eligible for a free flu vaccine to 'get it now'.

Residents with long-term health conditions, women who are pregnant and those aged over 65 are entitled to a free jab from their GP as they are at greater risk of developing complications as a result of the illness.

People living in a long-stay residential care facility are also entitled to the free jab, as well as those that receive a carer's allowance or are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person.

If you are a frontline health and social care worker it is your employer's responsibility to arrange a vaccination for you.

The NHS flu immunisation programme has also extended to all children in school years one and two, who will be offered a nasal spray vaccine in school.

It is expected that this will have a huge impact on the spreading of flu in the community, reducing its impact across all age groups.

The council said children aged between two to four years old should also be vaccinated and can get the nasal spray vaccine from their GP.

Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, executive board member for public health and wellbeing, added: "Flu can be a very nasty illness and we want to avoid it spreading as much as possible to protect the communities of Warrington, particularly our more vulnerable residents."

For further information visit warrington.gov.uk/publichealth or warrington.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/9388/flu_jab_pharmacies