SENIOR health board officials are urging people to apply for a free vaccination as flu sweeps through the country.

Despite hundreds of residents being laid low by the bug, they are baffled that 62 per cent of people with a health condition in Ayrshire and Arran are yet to have the vaccine.

There has been a four-fold increase in the number of people suffering from flu since the start of the year, prompting a leading specialist to encourage those at risk to act now.

Dr Elvira Garcia, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said: “Anyone with a health condition, people aged 65 years or over and woman who are pregnant are urged to get the free flu vaccine as soon as possible if they have not already done so.”

Her advice was echoed by the British Heart Foundation’s director in Scotland, James Cant, who added: “Sadly, many people will be struggling with flu this winter and for people with health conditions such as heart disease, it can prove to be extremely serious.”

Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell added: “The vaccine offers the best defence against the most common types of flu circulating at the moment. “ Visit www.immunisationscotland.org.uk/flu for more information.