DOCTORS are reminding elderly and vulnerable patients they are entitled to free flu jabs after confusion has arisen over a supermarket also offering the vaccinations.

Asda stores in Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Colne and Rawtenstall today are offering customers to chance buy a flu jab, to be administered by a trained nurse, for £12 which it says is £8 cheaper than private treatment.

But Brierfield GP Dr Mike Ions said Asda's advertising campaign, which generated considerable media interest, had confused many, particularly elderly people, into thinking they would have to pay for the jab this year.

He said: "We need to remind all people aged over 65 and those in at risk groups -- diabetics, asthma sufferers, people with heart disease and other serious illness -- that they are eligible for free flu jabs this autumn.

"We had a significant number of elderly people coming in saying they have seen the newspapers or adverts for the flu jabs and they were worried that they had to pay this year and they don't.

"The most worrying thing is that some may have stayed away because they think they have to pay and we need to get the message out to them that they don't."

A spokeswoman for Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust said: "All eligible people should contact their GP surgery for a free flu jab because this is the best form of protection against flu. Anybody can get flu and the consequences can be severe, especially for people over 65 and those in at risk group."

An Asda spokesman said all customers were being given leaflets during the immunisation day which clearly stated that over-65s and those in the at risk group were still entitled to free jabs from their GP.

He said the immunisations were being offered for the convenience of the customer and stores expected many to take up the offer to save time making a GP appointment.