'You don't want to get flu because it could kill you. After the flu jab I never caught flu again'

Hear Bridgett Dubeau, aged 72, who manages a sheltered housing scheme in Brighton, talk about how the flu jab has stopped her catching the potentially devastating disease. Residents aged 65 and over as well as frontline health and social care staff are being urged to have a free flu vaccine to avoid catching and spreading the potentially fatal disease. More than 11,000 Brighton and Hove residents aged 65 and over risk catching seasonal flu this winter if vaccination rates match those of last year. Over the flu season last year at least 13 residents were admitted into intensive care in the city’s hospitals with the highly infectious disease which compares to 904 nationally. No-one died locally from flu although nationally there were 98 deaths. For many the symptoms, which include fever, headache and aches and pains, can be quite mild but for some groups such as those aged 65 and over the disease can lead to hospitalisation, disability and even death. Older residents are being urged to contact their GPs to take up the free jab because the best way to avoid catching and spreading flu is by having a vaccination before the flu season starts. #StayWellSaveLives #freeflujab http://bit.ly/Z8eEsp