IN NHS Ayrshire & Arran, flu vaccination will be offered to all pregnant women at the 12-week scan stage.

The jabs will take place in community locations around the county, as well as being offered at the 20-week foetal anomaly scan undertaken at Ayrshire Maternity Unit.

Ayrshire & Arran’s vaccine uptake among people with health conditions was lower than the average in 2018/19.

Dr Elvira Garcia, local immunisation officer, said: “Getting the vaccine only takes a few minutes and helps to provide protection from flu for around a year.

We’re urging parents of two to five year-olds across NHS Ayrshire & Arran and people with health conditions to accept their invitation to be immunised this autumn, and get protected for winter.”

The NHS will provide those who qualify with the jab, free of charge, to protect them against flu.

Every year in Scotland, around two-thirds of people who get severe flu have a serious health condition such as diabetes and lung or heart disease.

With the colder months of the year approaching, it could be the perfect time to get covered.