Fears poor flu vaccine uptake may be disaster

Tayside health chiefs fear poor uptake of the flu vaccine could cause a winter double whammy if a second wave of Covid-19 hits.

Public health bosses say inoculating as many health workers and vulnerable locals as possible is more important than ever this year as cases begin to rise again across the country.

They fear many could be at increased risk if they fall ill with both viruses while already strained services in the colder months could struggle to cope.

Soon-to-retire director of public health Dr Drew Walker urged colleagues at a recent NHS Tayside board meeting to step up their efforts.

He said: “This is going to be a particularly important challenge for us this flu season.

“It is always a challenge to get uptake of this vaccine, which is very safe and very effective, as high as it should be.

“Although it does not always prevent flu, it invariably reduces the severity experienced.

“This really is a vaccine we should be achieving much higher levels of uptake for. I would encourage anybody – both NHS, care workers and our vulnerable and older population – to take up the opportunity.

“This year it’s more important than ever before.”

The influenza programme will start in late Septemberearly October and run through to the early part of 2021.

NHS Tayside has again set a minimum target of vaccinating 60% of healthcare staff.

Chairwoman Lorna Birsestewart told the meeting the health board will need to look at “creative and innovative” ways to deliver the programme this year.

Senior statistician and epidemiologist Dr Mike Lonergan, of Dundee University’s school of medicine, said prioritising the programme “makes sense”.

He said: “The NHS is always under more pressure in the winter and the flu season tends to be a struggle. Therefore if we do get a second-wave of Covid, it doesn’t sound like a particularly good situation to be in.

“Getting people vaccinated is cheap and safe so I imagine it would be an easy decision to push for better uptake and I’m glad NHS Tayside are.

“I suspect they will try and get it started as fast as possible.”