HEALTH experts are urging at-risk groups in the North-East to have a flu jab in case this winter is a bad one.

While influenza was not a major problem last year, people with underlying conditions - who are 11 times more likely to die if they get flu compared to the general population - are being advised not to gamble on it being another good winter.

Officials are also concerned at the relatively low number of at-risk people who get vaccinated against flu in the North-East.

Last winter the percentage of the at-risk population that had a flu jab in the North-East varied from 47 per cent in Middlesbrough to 58 per cent in South Tyneside.

Health bosses are also keen to get the message across to pregnant women that they should have the flu jab, as pregnancy naturally weakens the body’s immune system.

Dr Tricia Cresswell, flu lead for the Public Health England Centre in the North-East said: “For most healthy people, flu is an unpleasant but usually self-limiting disease with recovery time taking up to a week.

"However, older people, the very young, pregnant women and those with a health condition, particularly chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease, or those who have a weakened immune system are at particular risk from the more serious effects of flu.

“Since 2013, two and three-year-olds have been eligible for flu vaccination with a newly available nasal spray, and this year the spray is also being offered to four-year-olds.”

A national campaign is urging those eligible for the free NHS vaccine to contact their GP or pharmacist. The campaign will include TV and radio advertising as well as billboards.