AROUND 75 per cent of pregnant women in East Lancashire have ignored the call to have the seasonal flu jab.

Worried health officials said that less than a quarter of mums-to-be in Blackburn with Darwen had taken up the offer of a free flu jab to protect themselves and their unborn babies.

And NHS East Lancashire said only 25 per cent of all pregnant women in Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale had received the vaccine.

Last winter more than 600 people in the UK died as a direct result of catching seasonal flu, and 31 people died from the H1N1 swine flu strain.

The vaccination protects against both.

Health experts say the vaccine is safe for both mum and baby at any stage of the pregnancy.

Now NHS bosses are urging expectant mums to make time for the jab before Christmas to make sure they are prepared in case the virus strikes.

Dr Gifford Kerr, consultant in public health for NHS Blackburn with Darwen Care Trust Plus, said: “Mild weather in the run-up to Christmas could have lulled pregnant women into a false sense of security and made them think they don’t need the jab.

“Usually people associate seasonal flu with winter weather. But it can strike whether it’s warm or cold.

“Flu is a very nasty illness which will put anyone in bed for a few days.

"But being pregnant increases your risk of catching it and being more seriously ill.

“The vaccine takes just a few minutes, it’s more or less painless and while it can’t stop you getting flu, it will make the illness much less severe and reduce the risk of developing complications.”

NHS East Lancashire said 48.5 per cent of pregnant women in a clinical ‘at risk’ group had chosen to be vaccinated.

Waheeda Abbas, the trust’s vaccination and immunisation co-ordinator, said: “In pregnancy, the immune system is naturally suppressed.

“This means that pregnant women are more likely to catch flu and if they do catch it they are more likely to develop complications which could put the baby at risk of premature or still birth.

“However, your immune system still functions and the risk of complications is very small.

“The vaccine is safe for mother and baby and can be given at any stage of pregnancy.”

Any pregnant woman who would like a flu jab should contact their GP or midwife.