RESIDENTS in east Cheshire are being urged to take their free flu jab before winter sets in.

Dr Paul Bowen, GP chair of NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) wants the area to build on the success of last year when it was named the second highest performing area in England for the uptake of the vaccine by people aged 65 and over and by two-to-four-year-olds.

All of the borough’s 23 GP practices are offering the jab to at-risk groups, including people with long-term medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes, people over 65, pregnant woman, young children, carers and health workers.

Dr Bowen, who is based at McIlvride Medical Practice, Poynton, said: “I’d like to thank our residents for responding so well to their flu clinic invitations last year and helping themselves to stay well and flu-free.

“If you have ever had flu, you’ll know that it’s more than a bad cold, or a chesty cough, but can in fact reduce healthy people to bed for days. It’s a serious, viral illness that can kill those at risk, and produce misery for millions.

“Yet many people do not take up their invitations due to a variety of reasons, ranging from not liking needles to not believing the vaccine works, but I would strongly urge these people to reconsider.

“The flu vaccination remains the best protection we have against an unpredictable, constantly shifting virus.

“Each year, the jab is manufactured to help the body defend itself against the most likely strains of influenza which evolve differently each year. Public Health England helps develop a jab which is designed to fight the condition by boosting your immune system against the most likely strains to emerge over the coming winter. While it won’t stop you getting a bad cold or unpredicted strains of the disease, it is highly effective, safe and rarely causes any side effects.”

The full list of clinics is as follows:

Appointments only clinics for all eligible Knutsford residents over 18 on Thursday, September 29 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at Manchester Road Surgery (01565 633 101), Saturday October 1 from 9am to 12pm at Annandale Medical Centre (01565 755 222), Tuesday, October 11, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Annandale Medical Centre (01565 755 222), Wednesday October 19 from 9am to 11.30am at Town Lane Surgery in Mobberley (01565 755 222) and Wednesday, November 9 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at Toft Road Surgery (01565 632 681)

Alderley Edge Medical Practice on Saturday, October 1, 8 and 15 from 9am to 12pm.

Chelford Surgery on Wednesday, September 28 surnames M to Z, 3pm to 6pm

Handforth Health Centre on Saturday, October 8 and 29.

Holmes Chapel Health Centre on Saturday, October 1 and November 5 from 8.30am to 11.30am.

Kenmore Medical Centre in Wilmslow on Saturday, October 1 and October 15 from 8.30am to 12.30pm and finally Wilmslow Health Centre on Saturday, October 8 from 9am to 12pm.