Educating vulnerable people on the benefits of influenza vaccines.

Influenza causes 3,000-6,000 deaths each year in the UK, mainly in people aged 65 or older. Modern influenza vaccines are safe and effective with between 60 per cent and 90 per cent success rate. Systemic side effects are no more common than placebo, and local side effects are mild and short lived. Despite this, some older people are reluctant to take up the vaccine and the reasons for this are not straightforward.