The department of health defined groups of people recommended to have the seasonal flu vaccine this year are:

• All those aged 65 years and over
• All those aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group (see Annex A below)
• All those living in long-stay residential care homes
• All those in receipt of a carer’s allowance or those who are a main carer for someone who’s welfare would be at risk were they (the carer) to fall ill

Annex A (clinical risk groups)

Chronic respiratory disease and asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic (tablet) steroid
OR
with hospital admissions needed for
- asthma
Chronic heart disease
Chronic renal disease
Chronic liver disease
Chronic neurological disease (includes stroke and TIA, some other neurological diseases eg MS)
Diabetes
Immunosuppression (e.g. Absent spleen)
Chemotherapy leading to Immunosuppression
HIV
Steroids exceeding 20mg per day for more than 1 month