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06 October 2011 10:19
People flying out on holidays risk their lives by not getting vaccinated against seasonal flu, the Chief Medical Officer warned
Holidaymakers are risking their lives each year by not getting anti-seasonal flu jabs, the UK's Chief Medical Officer has warned.
The risks of catching flu and other conditions is a strong reason to organise comprehensive medical travel insurance.
New figures show 87% of people quizzed in a survey would get vaccinated against tropical diseases before trips abroad, but only half of under 65s who were advised to get the seasonal flu jab did so in 2010.
However, seasonal flu can endanger life - there were 602 deaths with flu in the UK last year, with 70% of those among 15-64 year olds. And those travelling routinely accept jabs against yellow fever, typhoid and hepatitis A before flying off on holidays to Thailand or Africa.
A potentially life-saving flu jab would take five minutes, Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies said.
She added: "Flu can be a serious illness - particularly for those in at risk groups. It can result in a spell in hospital, and sadly, flu can kill. The best way to protect yourself is to be vaccinated."
19 March 2019
Lower your blood pressure with these fresh, healthy foods you can add to your diet.
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02 March 2019
A Flybe flight was forced to abort take-off due to the cabin filling with "smoke" while it was accelerating along the runway at Exeter Airport.
01 March 2019
Holidaymakers will soon be able to take advantage of the first direct flight from London to Scotland's Western Isles after Loganair announced three new routes.
28 February 2019
Over one in five women in the UK wrongly think a smear test can detect ovarian cancer, new research has revealed.
27 February 2019
One in 10 UK adults over the age of 40 is living with Type 2 diabetes, new analysis suggests - but the real figure could be much higher.
26 February 2019
British Airways has revealed the second of its series of retro liveries being recreated as part of the airline's 100th birthday celebrations.
23 February 2019
The price of a prescription in England is set to rise again, the Government has announced, in a move some campaigners have called disappointing.
22 February 2019
Just half an hour of exercise every morning could be as effective as drugs at lowering daily blood pressure, research suggests.
21 February 2019
A British man accidentally used the wrong passport to fly from Prague to the UK, leaving his friend stranded in the Czech capital.
19 February 2019
Hundreds of passengers have had their travel plans cancelled following the collapse of airline flybmi.
16 February 2019
Holidaymakers were left fuming after a "lack of clarity" over Brexit led a Romanian airline to cancel flights from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.
15 February 2019
British Airways celebrated Valentine's Day with a special flight where all members of the cabin crew were couples who work for the airline.