FLU causes unnecessary deaths and illness every year in Wales, but is entirely preventable through vaccination.

That is the message of the annual Beat Flu campaign to be launched today, to encourage those who need it most to protect themselves against the virus.

People in eligible groups across Wales can get a vaccination on the NHS. This includes pregnant women, people with certain chronic long term health conditions, everyone aged 65 and over, and children aged two-eight years.

Public health minister Rebecca Evans AM will launch the campaign today. She said it is vital that those most at risk take up the free vaccine.

“Influenza can be a life-threatening illness for people who are at risk due to their age, an underlying health problem, or because they are pregnant,” she said.

“Sadly, influenza kills people in Wales every year.

“People can be seriously ill with influenza, and a flu vaccination is the best way to protect against it, so make sure you get protected soon, for your own and other people’s sake.”

The vaccine for adults is a small injection, but for children it is a simple nasal spray. Two to three-year-olds can get the nasal vaccine at their GP surgery, while those in reception class and school Years 1 to 4 can get it at school.

Flu viruses that cause illness each winter change, and so too does the vaccine, to try to match the circulating strains, and give the best protection.

Carers, volunteers giving planned emergency first aid, and Community First Responders can also get the vaccine. It is recommended too that frontline health and social care workers receive it, to protect themselves and those they care for.

Flu vaccination rates in Gwent improved last year among people aged 65 and over (68.2 per cent), and among people under 65-years-old but in ‘at risk’ groups - including those with respiratory, heart and kidney complaints, diabetes, and those classed as obese (49.7 per cent).

For children aged two to three years, the uptake rate was 45.3 per cent, and among Aneurin Bevan University Health Board staff it was 49.3 per cent.

Find out more by visiting www.beatflu.org or www.curwchffliw.org or finding Beat Flu or Curwch Ffliw on Twitter and Facebook.