THOUSANDS of Darlington's most vulnerable residents are putting themselves at serious risk by ignoring crucial medical advice, health chiefs said yesterday.

Despite a three-month public health campaign, 5,200 people over the age of 65 have still not taken up their flu jabs.

Health officials at Darlington Primary Care Trust have told of their public safety fears about the effects of flu on elderly people.

They say it is especially dangerous for people with asthma, diabetes, chronic heart, chest or kidney disease, lowered immunity or any other chronic conditions.

This year, the uptake of people having their flu jab has dropped in the wake of national publicity about vaccine supply problems.

Health workers also believe that there is an element of public complacency regarding the issue.

Darlington PCT embarked on its annual flu campaign at the end of September in a bid to help protect the town's most vulnerable people.

District nurses visited people in residential and nursing homes and, for the first time, in sheltered accommodation. Housebound residents were also vaccinated in their own homes.

The PCT also provided a flu bus - a mobile clinic which visited people in parts of Darlington and surrounding villages.

Flu nurse Elaine Shaw said: "The uptake has been slower this year, probably because of the publicity surrounding vaccine supply issues.

"But our GP surgeries have more than enough vaccine now and it is essential people go for their jabs.

"There hasn't been a flu outbreak for some years, which is good news, but this has also led to an element of complacency among the public.

"But people really can't afford to miss having their jabs as flu really is a nasty disease."

Darlington PCT flu co-ordinator Marilyn Abbott said: "We take the issue very seriously indeed. In fact, we are already analysing this year's campaign and have begun planning the next."

She added that anyone who had not had the flu vaccination should contact their GP surgery.