FEWER than a quarter of health workers in Bolton have had the swine flu jab, it has emerged.

Now bosses are urging them to get vaccinated against the virus for their own protection, to safeguard services and to set an example to others.

NHS Bolton says only 372 of nearly 2,000 employees had been immunised by the end of last week. The jab has been on offer since early this month. All 3,600 Royal Bolton Hospital staff are being given the chance to get protected, but as of last Friday. only 841 workers had come forward.

Jan Hutchinson, director of public health at the primary care trust, said: “We are having to work very hard to encourage more people to take advantage of the opportunity to have the vaccine.”

Heather Edwards, head of communications at the hospital, said: “Our vaccination programme is progressing and we hope more staff will take up the offer.”

NHS Bolton says the take up may be low because staff are struggling to get to the special clinic set up for them to receive the vaccine. It is introducing mobile teams to help those having difficulty getting to the clinic, and will continue promoting the jab to employees.

The hospital was initially focusing on priority staff, those most likely to come into contact with swine flu or at-risk patients, but last week opened the jab offer to all staff.

GPs are now vaccinating priority patient groups, including asthmatics, diabetics and children with underlying health conditions.

The primary care trust says it will have an indication of uptake in the community over the next few days.

The programme is to be extended to children aged between six months and five years old, but NHS Bolton is still awaiting details on this.

The number of suspected cases are declining across Greater Manchester and the UK as a whole.

cherry.thomas @theboltonnews.co.uk