ABOUT 6,200 patients in the Wellington area are expected to have flu vaccinations.

Wellington Medical Centre in Mantle Street has 6,700 eligible for jabs and expects 4,700 to take up the offer between now and the middle of November.

The smaller Luson Centre in Fore Street will vaccinate 1,500.

WWN’s sports writer Barry Knott had his jab at the medical centre on Saturday. He said: “The NHS comes in for criticism almost daily – but it’s not the workforce to blame. It simply doesn’t get enough money.

“Vaccinating hundreds of patients in a morning takes some organising. They’ve got it down to a fine art at the centre. I was five minutes ahead of my appointment time and had my jab almost immediately.

“It was like a well-run military operation with volunteers directing you to your vaccination bay.”

Both the medical and Luson centres stress how important it is for vulnerable and older patients to have jabs.

For most people flu usually clears up in a week but for some it can lead to potentially serious complications, such as pneumonia.