Free flu jabs for 1m morbidly obese patients

AROUND one million morbidly obese adults are to be given free flu jabs after being classed as a high-risk group.

The NHS is braced for a severe outbreak after Australia had one of its worst winters on record, with dozens of flu-related deaths and hospitals overwhelmed.

Currently, children, pregnant women and the over-65s are eligible for free vaccines, while the jabs are also offered to people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease or a weakened immune system, as well as healthcare workers.

For the first time, the morbidly obese – those with a body mass index (BMI) rating of more than 40 – will also qualify. This is around 2 per cent of men and 4 per cent of women aged between 16 and 64.

The NHS estimates about half these people would have been offered the jab for free previously because they already suffer from other health conditions. People ineligible for the free vaccine can get one for £12.99 at Boots or £5 at Asda.

Sir Malcolm Grant, chairman of NHS England, said hospitals fear being inundated with flu cases in the coming months – with the strain heading our way being a particular risk to the elderly and children.