WITH the weather turning, elderly people should be making plans to protect themselves against the potentially deadly winter flu virus.

Every year, hundreds of people needlessly suffer serious illness or die because they are not prepared for the cold weather.

Plans to vaccinate 15 million people in Britain over the coming weeks have been thrown into disarray because of problems manufacturing vaccines.

Vaccines usually start to arrive in GPs' surgeries during September, but makers say that deliveries will be late this year and cannot be guaranteed until the end of November.

It means the vaccination programme - which is believed to prevent about 12,000 deaths from flu each winter - will now run at least two months behind schedule, which is all the more reason to make sure you are well prepared.

Flu vaccination is one of the simplest and most effective ways of protecting the health of older people. It protects against the symptoms of flu, and can prevent other diseases such as bronchitis, which can develop from flu.

Everyone aged 65 and over should contact their local GP surgery to arrange their flu jab.

However, it must be made clear that the seasonal flu vaccination will not protect people against a flu pandemic.

A vaccine to protect people from a pandemic can only be produced when the exact virus strain is known.

Taking care with what people eat can also make a big difference to their health at anytime of the year, but it is particularly important during the winter months.

Eating more warm, healthy foods and making sure people have plenty of warm drinks will contribute to staying well.

Even though the cold and wet weather may not make it easy to get outdoors, every effort should be made to do at least some exercise, even if that is a short walk to the local shops or taking the dog out for its daily walk.

Bolton Over 50s Federation president Professor Arup Banerjee said: "Each winter, many frail older people get affected by bad cold, flu or even pneumonia.

"Although the common cold can't be prevented, certain types of influenza and pneumonia can be prevented and/or minimised through immunisation.

"Over the past few years, the Government has particularly targeted older people above 65 for vaccination against flu - the so-called flu jab'. This is freely available through the GP surgeries and most doctors remind the older individuals on their lists to make an appointment for this free flu-jab.

"Unlike many other jabs, flu jabs only work for 12 months, hence the need for annual injections. It is particularly targeted to old people with chronic debilitating illness eg diabetes, kidney disorders, chronic heart and chest conditions, compromised immune systems and residents of nursing and care homes.

"Protection cannot be guaranteed to all but nearly 75 per cent of those vaccinated remain covered from a fortnight afterwards and, if affected, fight it better.

"Both flu and pneumo-jabs are strongly recommended to older people who are frail and chronically ill; and the ideal time to take is from early October before there is serious chill in the air."

Everyone aged 65 and older, people with chronic heart, lung or kidney disease or diabetes mellitus, with poor immunity and those in long-stay accommodation are offered a jab.

People should contact their local GP surgery for more advice.