THOUSANDS of elderly people are putting their health at risk as public complacency about flu reaches alarming levels, it was revealed yesterday.

Just over half of the 16,000 Darlington residents over 65 have been vaccinated against the potentially lethal virus, which during the First World War killed more people than the fighting.

Health officials fear public apathy could result in the scale of epidemic the vaccination programme has managed to prevent in recent years.

All doctors' surgeries in the town have flu vaccine in stock ready to be administered free to those most at risk. Vaccination prevents the disease taking hold because it triggers the body's immune system to fight the virus from the start. Without it, people, particularly the elderly, can fall prey to flu, which like all viruses is unaffected by antibiotics.

Complications can develop, including heart problems and chest infections, which can prove fatal.

Annual vaccination is necessary because the virus can mutate and the immune system has to be readied for the new strain.

But despite the seriousness of the disease, thousands of people are ignoring Government advice.

"We are really concerned that not enough people are taking this seriously," said Darlington Primary Care Trust pharmaceutical advisor Ian Morris.

"We haven't had a flu outbreak for a number of years and people have grown complacent."

Trust practice development manager Marilyn Abbott said: "The weather has been quite mild so they forget there is such a thing as flu, but it is very important that they are vaccinated.

"You really are ill with the flu, and apart from the discomfort and risk to the their health they could end up in hospital taking up valuable bed space."

She said people often complained the vaccination gave them flu, but that was a myth.

Darlington GP David Russell said of the disease: "It is miserable, horrible and can be a killer for old people. Everyone over the age of 65 should have the vaccination whether they are fit or not."

The primary care trust is urging residents over 65 to get in touch with their GP surgery to make an appointment for a vaccination without delay.