Government ministers are urging those who qualify for a free flu jab to take up the offer this year, despite the failures of last winter’s vaccine.

Flu constantly mutates which means making a vaccine is challenging. It is based on an estimate of what strain the virus will be and is usually 50 per cent effective. However, last year it was just three per cent effective.

Nevertheless, the Government maintains that the vaccine remains the best protection against flu for at-risk groups, such as those aged over 65, pregnant women and people with long-term medical conditions.

This comes after the recent announcement of a new national flu vaccination service in which community pharmacies will be able to offer the NHS flu vaccination to at-risk patients who are over the age of 18 years. Find out more about the new flu service here.