ANNUAL VIRUS HITS EARLY AMID FEARS FOR VULNERABLE

LEADING North East NHS figures continue to urge everyone eligible to get a vital flu jab amid concern about an extremely early flu season this winter.

- By SAM VOLPE

Health bosses think the annual winter flu virus has hit around five weeks earlier than usual, and this means the illness has caught more people before they've managed to get a protective jab.

Northumberland nurse Kaye Williams, who leads the vaccination effort for the Northumbria Primary Care group of GP practices told The Chronicle that even otherwise fit and healthy people could be floored by flu and left in bed “for a month”. Needless to say, the virus can also be lethal, especially in those who are vulnerable.

Dr Catherine Monaghan, medical director at the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said health leaders knew many vulnerable people had yet to take up the jabs - and were thus at risk of serious illness.