Experts are predicting a particularly bad flu season this winter, so people are being urged to get themselves vaccinated as early as possible.

Flu is a highly contagious illness that kills between 200 and 500 people in Ireland every year. It is particularly dangerous among older people. Flu season usually lasts from October to April and this year, it is expected to be particularly dangerous.

According to the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), Australia, which is coming out of its winter, has already reported twice as many cases of the illness this year compared to last year and twice as many people have required hospitalisation.

"Flu is an extremely contagious respiratory illness. It can lead to serious illness, even death. We are strongly advising everyone, but particularly those at risk, to get the vaccine early this year. The more people who get vaccinated, the less flu can spread around the community," commented IPU president, Daragh Connolly.

The flu is available from GPs and community pharmacists. During last year's flu season, almost 79,000 people were vaccinated in more than 760 pharmacies nationwide.

People in at-risk groups are urged to get the vaccine as early as possible. These include anyone over the age of 65, pregnant women, healthcare workers, and anyone with a chronic health condition such as heart disease, diabetes and asthma.

The flu vaccine is free of charge to all those in at-risk groups. If you do not have a medical card or GP-visit card, you may have to pay a fee for having the vaccine administered.

The IPU highlighted this issue to coincide with World Pharmacy Day (September 25). Currently in Ireland, there are around 1.5 million visits made to pharmacies every week.

For more information on the flu vaccine, click here