CUT-PRICE flu jabs soon to be offered at a supermarket chain in East Lancashire have baffled a local health watchdog.

Shoppers at Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Colne and Rawtenstall Asda stores will be given leaflets about the £12 vaccinations, £8 cheaper than a private jab, when they arrive at the stores on Saturday October 12.

They can pay for it at the checkout and then complete a health questionnaire. Then, provided there are no medical obstacles, a qualified nurse from a mobile medical service will administer the jab in private.

Blackburn community health council chief officer Nigel Robinson said those in at risk groups already received flu jabs free of charge from their GP.

"I understand it's a matter of personal freedom but to me it's peculiar. I'd advise anyone to seek advice from their GP or the Department of Health."

He said official Department of Health advice stated those not in the at-risk group, those without chronic illnesses and under 65 - did not need flu jabs. "Their annual flu campaign leaflet launched in August this year actually says healthy people would benefit from catching flu and building up immunity."

Private firm Doctorcall, which specialises in vaccinating UK company employees, is carrying out the programme at 256 Asda stores nationwide and plans to repeat it next month. Chairman Dr Charles Levinson said: "While flu kills 3,000 people from vulnerable groups most patients will suffer from a high fever for three to four days with the tiredness of a flu hangover lasting two to three weeks. Our vaccine reduces the incidence of flu by 80 per cent."

An Asda spokesman added: "While flu is not normally life-threatening for healthy people, recent studies show that giving a flu jab to all adults would be beneficial, cutting the winter impact of the virus on the health of the nation."

An East Lancashire Public Health Network spokesman said: "Each year there are changes in the pattern of influenza viruses and this years vaccine is based on those types of flu that scientific studies suggest are most likely to have the most serious effects.