OKEHAMPTON Medical Centre has this month launched an innovative new service which aims to make it even easier for eligible patients to receive their annual flu vaccination.

In addition to the usual Saturday morning clinics at which patients can be given the free flu jab, the medical centre staff will be holding weekday clinics in outlying villages.

The new clinics will be held in village halls in South Zeal, Exbourne, Sourton and Belstone during October.

David Seward, practice manager, said: 'This is a new innovation for us. The Government has set a target of 70% take up on flu vaccinations for those over 65 — we didn't quite manage to achieve that last year and although our Saturday morning clinics have been very successful, we haven't quite got to everybody we would like to.

'We're trying for the first time to take the clinics out to outlying clinics to see if we can catch those people who find it difficult to get transport into town.'

Mr Seward said the free flu vaccinations are available to everyone over the age of 65 and to people under 65 with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

He urged people in these categories to make the effort to have the immunisation.

'It's very important to have it yearly, because the virus changes year on year and the drug companies adapt the flu vaccination to how they think the virus will change in the coming year,' he said.

Flu clinics will be held at the medical centre on Saturday October 4, 11, 18 and on November 1.

Weekday clinics will be held at Exbourne on Wednesday October 8 between 2pm and 4pm; Belstone on Friday October 17 between 2pm and 4pm; Sourton on Monday October 20 between 2pm and 4pm and at South Zeal on Tuesday October 28 between 2pm and 4pm.

No appointment is necessary at the clinics — patients will be seen in the order in which they arrive.

In addition to flu jabs, pneumonia vaccinations will also be offered to all those over 80 years of age.