Record number of NHS staff get flu jab

A record number of Tayside staff have been immunised to protect themselves and their patients from flu.

NHS Tayside saw its staff vaccination uptake more than double from 18 per cent in 2016/17 to 37 per cent the following year.

In 2018/19, uptake again increased to more than 54 per cent, the highest level ever recorded in Tayside and rising above the national average for the first time.

Consultant in public health medicine Dr Daniel Chandler, who leads on the flu vaccination programme in Tayside, said:“A raft of initiatives have been introduced over the last couple of years to boost our uptake of staff flu vaccines.

“We substantially increased the availability and promotion of opportunities for our staff and volunteers to get vaccinated at drop-in clinics in hospitals and community sites and at mobile sessions in frontline areas, as well as training a significant number of our staff to be peer immunisers and vaccinate their colleagues on the wards. NHS staff can also attend participating community pharmacies across Tayside to get their free flu jab.

“Healthcare workers have a higher risk of flu compared to the general public, with up to one in four likely to become infected during a mild flu season, and more than two thirds of people with flu may not have any symptoms but could still pass it on to others.

“This is why it is so important for us to vaccinate as many members of staff as possible. We need to protect staff, patients and service users, especially those most at risk of serious complications, by reducing the spread of the virus in our hospitals and communities.

“We know that education and awareness is important in order to address concerns and perceptions that some people may have around the flu vaccine. This is something that we will build on but we are very pleased to see so many of our staff now viewing the flu jab as important and necessary.”