A hard-hitting advertising campaign about how easily swine flu can spread will be launched this week by the Government

A hard-hitting advertising campaign about how easily swine flu can spread will appear in newspapers on Monday as GPs start to receive supplies of vaccine.

The campaign features a father travelling home from work, sneezing and spreading germs as he goes.

When he finally arrives home, he turns the volume down on the television as his son watches cartoons. The youngster then picks up the remote before sucking his thumb.

The campaign, under the slogan Catch It, Kill It, Bin It, will feature in newspapers from as GPs start to take delivery of the vaccine.

The television advert begins on Wednesday while posters for the new autumn campaign will be on tubes and buses from Thursday.

The ads all sign off with the catchline "Flu. Protect yourself and others".

The Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "Vaccination of at-risk groups is well under way - a crucial defence against swine flu. But we can't vaccinate everyone straight away.

"Helping to stop the spread of flu is easy, simply by covering your nose and mouth with tissues when you cough and sneeze, throwing the tissue away and washing your hands really cuts the chances of spreading the virus.

"This campaign is a reminder of how easily germs are passed around."