HEALTH bosses have made a new appeal for young people to get vaccinated against flu after new figures which showed that less than a third of at-risk youngsters have had the jab.

The appeal is aimed at the parents of under 16s with long term health problems like asthma and diabetes.

It was made after uptake figures showed that less than a third of eligible young people aged between six months and 16 have had the jab.

Health officials are concerned that only 26 per cent of the estimated 25,000 eligible young people across the region have been protected so far.

During December and January last winter, critical care units across the North-East were under severe pressure caring for patients who required ventilation due to serious complications of flu.

Most of these patients were young and middle aged adults with long term conditions such as diabetes and asthma and some sadly died. Much of this serious illness could have been avoided if people in these at risk groups had been vaccinated.

Dr Tricia Cresswell, deputy medical director at NHS North East said: “Traditionally the elderly have been more seriously affected by winter flu but the picture is beginning to change as we are seeing a higher proportion of young and middle aged people taken seriously ill.

“Flu can cause serious illness in people with long term conditions including younger people and in the most severe cases can put the lives of people with these conditions in unnecessary danger. We don’t want anyone to get ill from something which can be avoided and that’s why we’re appealing to the parents of young people who are in the flu risk groups, to book a vaccination appointment as a matter of priority and before flu starts circulating more widely in the community.”