The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton, has written to managers of all nursing and residential care homes in Wales to urge frontline staff to get their flu vaccinations up to date.

He said: “As winter approaches I want to remind you of the importance of flu vaccination for care home staff in helping to protect the vulnerable people in our care against catching flu.

“Last winter there were 49 flu outbreaks in Wales, half of which were in residential and care homes. Experience from Australia and other countries in the southern hemisphere over the last few months suggests that the type of flu strain likely to be circulating in Wales this winter will affect older people more.

“Last season, the flu vaccine was not as effective in older people as in previous seasons and so it’s crucial that for this forthcoming winter that we do all we can to protect vulnerable residents from the adverse effects of flu.”

For more information, go to NHS Wales Beat Flu website.