OKEHAMPTON Medical Centre will run two extra Saturday morning flu jab clinics in an effort to get as many vulnerable people immunised as possible.

The sessions are open to at risk patients, including those over 65, pregnant women, and those with heart disease, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. No appointment is necessary for the sessions on December 1 and December 8, which run from 8.30am to noon.

Dr Tim Watson from the centre said: 'After our annual programme of flu clinics we so far have only immunised 48% of the target population. This target population includes all the over 65s and patients with chronic diseases such as asthma and heart disease, which make them at risk of serious complication and hospital admission if they get flu.

'This low immunisation rate is despite our programme of Saturday morning drop-in clinics, extra clinics through the week at the medical centre and village halls, and our practice nurses visiting the local residential homes.

'This is not only a problem in Okehampton. The trend is national with low immunisation rates being seen all over the country.

'This has worried the Government enough to run a national flu campaign this year.'

For further information call 01837 52233.