BOLTON'S frail and elderly have heeded health chiefs warnings and taken steps to protect themselves against flu.

In October last year 21,000 vaccines were administered and a further 12,483 were given in November by doctors working across Bolton.

These figures represent a 10 per cent increase on the previous year's statistics and have been warmly welcomed by Bolton's Family Health Services Authority.

The vaccine is broadly described as a "cocktail" which is made up of three strains of influenza which scientists reckon will be the most prevalent in the year.

"The vaccine is highly effective in cases where a person is in a frail condition. "If a person with a bad chest contracts the flu it can quickly turn into pneumonia and kill them," said Dr Robert Queenborough, Medical Adviser with Bolton FHSA.

"Thankfully more of our elderly people are heeding our advice and having the vaccine. Those who work in a health setting are also coming forward as they realise they can quite easily pass on the bug which results in the flu."

The fit and healthy, however, are not highlighted as being particularly susceptible. Only when there's a flu epidemic are risks increased.

In December such an epidemic resulted in a massive increase in the number of emergency medical admissions admitted to hospitals across the North-west and led to Bolton hospital bosses having to cancel some non-emergency operations This high number of admissions has continued unabated to cope with the current "phenomenally high" demand for beds.

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