Government ‘worried’ about low flu vaccine uptake

Over three quarters of people hospitalised with flu aren’t vaccinatedUptake is as low as 18.2pc among childrenOnly slightly more than one in four healthcare workers are vaccinatedA new strain is being blamed for driving up illness this winter, causing the flu season to arrive earlier and surge

Updated figures from the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland said to date this season nearly 500,000 vaccines have been administered here. (Alamy/PA)

Bairbre Holmes, Senan Molony and Eilish O'Regan

The Government is “worried” about the number of people who are not vaccinated against flu, Fine Gael minister Patrick O’Donovan has said.

Speaking during Leader’s Questions today he said: “We’re worried about the amount of people that could still get the flu vaccine.