MIDWIVES are urging pregnant women in Warrington to get vaccinated against flu ahead of this winter.

The jab will be offered for the first time by midwifery teams to women at their antenatal appointments.

Katie Dee, immunisation lead for the north west, said: “There have been some really upsetting cases over the last two winters, where pregnant women have caught the flu, become seriously ill and in some cases have died.

“Unfortunately if you are pregnant you are susceptible to serious complications if you catch the flu virus.

“The best step you can take to protect yourself and your baby is to have the flu vaccine.”

Last year 16,356 pregnant women from the north west had the flu vaccine but this was only 43.3 per cent of the number eligible.