Health experts at NHS Bradford and Airedale are advising Keighley residents to get their flu jabs this winter.

People who are 65 and over as well as those with long-term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, multiple sclerosis or serious kidney and liver disease, are being encouraged to go to their doctors to get vaccinated.

The make-up of the vaccine changes slightly every year to protect against the types of flu going around.

This year, for the first time, all pregnant women will also be offered the vaccination as a matter of course.

This is because it protects against the H1N1 virus (swine flu) and pregnant women who catch this strain are at an increased risk of severe disease and flu-related hospital admissions.

Linda Scott, vaccination lead for NHS Bradford and Airedale, said: “Every year people die from complications caused by getting flu. These are deaths that could be prevented.

“The best way to avoid flu is to get immunised, but in addition people should practise good hand hygiene with the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ technique.

“This means carrying tissues, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use and cleaning hands as soon as possible with soap and water or an alcohol hand gel.”

Katy Beck, GP registrar from the Wilsden practice, said: “Flu is much more serious than a cold, especially for older people and those with chronic health problems.

“If you are at a greater risk, I would urge you not to wait for winter or a flu epidemic – contact your GP practice as soon as possible to make an appointment.”