CARE home residents across the Durham Dales are being targeted next month in a bid to reduce the incidence of flu in vulnerable people.

There were 15,000 deaths last year in the UK associated with flu and the Care Home Vaccination Programme in the Durham Dales aims to cut numbers and relieve pressure on GP surgeries.

Care home residents will be offered flu vaccinations over the next two months through the programme mounted by the Durham Dales Health Federation.

Residents who are identified by their GPs as at risk will be eligible.

Craig Hay, service development manager for DDHF, said: "The programme will be delivered by trained health care professionals on behalf of the 12 GP practices in the Durham Dales area.

"The programme will run from September to October and the vaccinations will be delivered across a total of 18 care home sites."

The programme is a follow up to last year when more than 700 care home residents were vaccinated.

In addition patients requiring pneumococcal vaccines and shingles vaccinations were treated as part of the initiative.

Mr Hay said: "GP surgeries struggle to cope with the numbers of people who present with flu like symptoms every year.

"Vaccinating as many vulnerable people as possible is therefore a sensible and pragmatic approach to preventing people from becoming ill and also relieving the pressure on hospitals and GPs."

To qualify for the free jab people need to be 65 years old or over. It can also apply to pregnant women, those who have certain medical conditions or those who are living in a care home or other long-stay care facility.

Eligibility may also apply to those who receive a carer's allowance or are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person.