BETSI Cadwaladr has called on residents in North Wales to get their 'crucial' flu vaccines this winter. 

Children and eligible adults will be able to get a free flu vaccine at one of the health board's mass vaccination centres from Monday.

The health board says flu is circulating in North Wales, with hundreds of patients admitted to hospital in recent weeks.

From Monday, January 16, everyone eligible for a flu vaccine will be able to walk into a vaccination clinic without an appointment. Many GP surgeries and community pharmacies will also continue to offer the vaccine.

Free painless nasal spray flu vaccines are available for all children aged two and three (age on August 31, 2022) and all school children from Reception to Year 11.

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Adults aged 50 and over, plus priority high-risk groups including pregnant women, health workers, carers, and people with underlying health conditions are also eligible for the flu vaccine.

The health board says the number of cases of flu in the community is likely to remain high for several weeks and that the best way to protect against it is to get the flu vaccine.

The vaccine can prevent you from getting the flu, reduce your chances of passing it on, and can lessen the severity of symptoms if you do catch the virus.

All school-age children have been offered the flu vaccine at clinics in school during the autumn term, but it is not too late to catch up.

Betsi Cadwaladr immunisations coordinator Leigh Pusey said: “If you are in a priority group then getting your flu vaccine is crucial, and it’s so important to protect our children too.

“Please help to keep yourself and your loved ones well by making sure you take up the opportunity to get the flu vaccine – at your GP surgery, your local community pharmacist or at one of the health board’s vaccination centres.”