‘Infected NHS staf f pose risk’ to f lu jab patients
PATIENTS receiving flu jabs have been warned they risk catching the virus from NHS staff who haven’t been immunised.
The warning came as it was revealed that last winter was the deadliest in Scotland in nearly two decades.
Despite all NHS staff being offered free flu jabs, only 45.7 per cent of them received them last year.
Patient groups say that the figures indicate elderly and vulnerable people could be at risk of contracting the virus when they go to get the jab.
The Scottish Government last night issued a plea to everyone eligible for flu vaccinations, including NHS staff, to ensure that they get them in a bid to
‘Decision rests with the individual’
prevent another deadly winter of chaos.
However, experts criticised the level of uptake by health workers and raised fears it could be just as bad as last year.
In some health board areas, the proportion of staff getting the flu vaccination was much lower than the Scottish average of 45.7 per cent.
These include NHS Highlands, at 44.5 per cent, and NHS Western Isles, at 42.9 per cent, while NHS Grampian has said only that ‘more than 40 per cent’ of staff are immunised.
The health service wants to increase staff uptake to at least 60 per cent.
Jamie Weir, spokesman for the NHS Grampian patient group Pact, said: ‘Given that patients may be exposed to the flu virus from possible infective staff, it is really important the uptake is higher.’
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: ‘Vaccination remains our best defence against flu, and I urge people to take up the offer of a free vaccine.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘All NHS employees involved in the delivery of care are offered the flu vaccine for free, and boards are working hard to promote uptake.
‘Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer strongly recommends all health and social care staff are vaccinated where appropriate to prevent transmission of the virus, however, ultimately the decision to vaccinate rests with the individual.’
Official figures published yesterday showed there were 23,137 deaths registered across Scotland from December 2017 to March 2018 – a 10.5 per cent rise on the same period the previous year and the highest figure since 1999/2000.
The seasonal rise in mortality – the number of ‘additional’ deaths in winter months when compared to the average monthly total – was 4,800, 76 per cent higher than the previous year. Age Scotland’s head of policy and communications Adam Stachura said: ‘These figures are staggering and a real shock to the system.
‘The large increase in deaths due to flu and pneumonia should be setting alarm bells ringing.’
Scottish Labour health spokesman Monica Lennon said: ‘Winter deaths in Scotland have reached the highest level in 18 years. Many of these deaths are linked to flu and pneumonia but instead of planning ahead, SNP ministers have lost credibility by failing to buy enough enhanced flu vaccine for this winter.’