VULNERABLE, older and pregnant residents in Derbyshire are being urged to get their free flu vaccination.
Latest figures from Public Health England (PHE) show that levels of flu are still high and the virus is continuing to circulate.
Flu is a highly infectious disease that comes on very quickly.
Healthy people usually recover within two to seven days, but for some flu can lead to hospitalisation.
Councillor Dave Allen, cabinet member for health and communities at Derbyshire County Council, said: "Prevention is better than cure when it comes to the flu virus and we're encouraging eligible people to get their free flu vaccine."
People who are eligible for the free vaccination include pregnant women, young children aged between two and four, people with health conditions such as asthma and diabetes and older people.
Anyone in these groups who has not yet a flu vaccination should contact their GP.
Mr Allen added: "Apart from vaccination, basic hygiene is the main method to help prevent the spread of flu. This means simple things like using tissues to catch coughs or sneezes, binning the used tissues and then washing hands to kill the germs."
The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, pains in the muscles and tiredness.
