Workers in Dumbarton and the Vale are being warned against “playing Russian roulette” with the flu.

The warning comes after a Scotland-wide survey found that seven in 10 employees would clock on even though they are still ill.

Guilt, fear of being judged and not having enough paid sick days mean 69 per cent of employees would still turn up for work even if they had the flu.

Half of workers in Scotland said they have caught a cold at work, while a quarter say they have caught the flu from colleagues who have turned up sick.

And half of parents with kids under 16 in the country said their children have not yet been vaccinated, according to a survey for ASDA Pharmacy by Atomik Research.

TV doctor Hilary Jones said: “People need to stop playing Russian roulette with flu – it is an extremely serious illness and, as such needs to be taken extremely seriously.

“Going to work while still ill may seem like the noble thing to do but all it does is delay your recovery and infect those around you.

“And parents should think seriously about getting their children vaccinated – it is easy for kids to pass on flu to their grandparents, who are particularly vulnerable to the disease.”

Two-fifths of Scots surveyed said they would not have the flu jab this winter and 39 per cent of those who will not have the jab said they simply had not considered it.

Asda pharmacist Maq Din said: “Having a flu jab not only protects you against flu, it protects your whole family and the wider community.

“Flu is contagious and it can be passed through coughing, sneezing or by touching contaminated surfaces.

“Most flu outbreaks usually happen in late autumn or winter so now is the time to take action and book your appointment as it takes around 14 to 21 days to be protected against flu.

“Over time, protection from the injected flu vaccine gradually decreases and flu strains often change, so new flu vaccines are produced each year, which is why people advised to have the flu vaccine need it every year too.”