ALMOST 60,000 people in Medway will be offered the swine flu jab, which has been arriving at GP surgeries this week.

Supplies of the vaccine were being sent to doctors across the Towns from Monday. In the first wave, all practices, no matter what their size, were due to receive around 500 doses and further deliveries will be sent at a later date.

NHS Medway said just over £49,000 patients would be eligible to receive the vaccine, as well 10,000 health and social care staff.

Dr Julian Spinks, a GP based at Court View Surgery in Darnley Road, Strood, said: “If you are in an at risk group under the age of 65 - so people who have problems with heart disease, asthma, kidney disease and so on - you should be hearing from your practice asking you to come in to have the immunisation.”

With the cooler weather now setting in, the number of cases of swine flu is already rising.

Dr Alison Barnett, Medway’s director of public health said the best way people can continue to protect themselves is by following good hygiene.

She said: “Always use a tissue to catch your sneezes, throw away used tissues where germs can linger and regularly wash your hands. Simply remember the slogan Catch It, Bin It, Kill It.”