Vulnerable urged to get

Doctors have urged the elderly and those with health problems to get the winter flu jab.

The British Medical Association in Edinburgh said cases of seasonal and swine flu were emerging, and at-risk groups should be inoculated before the infections spread.

Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the BMA's Scottish GP committee, said: "For most of us, flu makes us feel miserable, but doesn't actually pose any serious risks to our health.

"Unfortunately, for the more vulnerable, it can cause serious complications and even lead to death.

"It is important that the flu campaign reaches as many vulnerable and at-risk people as possible because it is inevitable that there will be more cases of flu this winter.

"The vaccination can reduce both the likelihood of getting flu and the severity of the illness."