Free flu vaccinations for care home workers
STAFF working in nursing homes and adult residential care will be eligible for free flu vaccinations through NHS community pharmacies this winter, it has been announced.
Healthcare staff, including doctors and nurses, are already offered the flu vaccination by their NHS employers as part of occupational health services.
But now the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends that healthcare and social care workers also receive the jab to help protect vulnerable patients and residents in their care.
Previously, responsibility for offering flu vaccine to social care staff rested with individual employers.
Last winter, to the end of March 2018, there were 71 reported flu outbreaks in Wales, of which 42 (60%) happened in care homes.
Studies have shown that the uptake of flu immunisation among staff in care homes is low and that they have an increased risk of catching the virus.
Health and Social Services Secretary Vaughan Gething said: “As we prepare for the flu season each year, it is important that we maximise resilience within health and social care services to enable them to manage better during times of exceptional seasonal pressure.
“Vaccination of staff has been shown to be effective in reducing the spread of disease and patient mortality in care home settings.
“It can also help to ensure business continuity by reducing flurelated staff illness and the need to provide locum cover.
“The social care sector has a crucial role to play in preventing hospital admissions over the winter period, particularly for older people.
“Therefore, for winter 2018-19, I have taken the decision to offer flu vaccination to staff working in adult residential care and nursing homes, at no cost to themselves or their employers, through community pharmacies on the NHS.”
This action is being taken alongside a significant expansion of the children’s vaccination programme. Next winter, the programme will be extended by two additional school years to include school Years Five and Six. It means that all primary-schoolaged children from reception class to Year Six will be offered the flu vaccine from 2018-19.
The Health Secretary added: “It is really important that people more at risk of developing complications from flu, such as pregnant women, those aged 65 and over, and people with long-term health conditions, receive the vaccine.
“In 2017-18, take-up of the flu vaccine in these groups was higher than ever. That is good news, but we cannot be complacent, and our flu campaign for 2018-19 will continue to stress the real benefits of getting the flu jab.”
Community Pharmacy Wales chief executive Russell Goodway said: “Flu vaccination is a proven way of reducing the spread of a disease that is particularly dangerous for older and vulnerable people, so it is both sensible and prudent to vaccinate adult residential and nursing home staff.
“With a network of over 700 community pharmacies throughout Wales, we are ideally placed to offer this service on an accessible basis on the high street to this sizeable high-risk group.
“The announcement is yet another positive example of community pharmacies working positively with Welsh Government and NHS Wales to extend healthcare provision in Wales.
“It shows how we are working constructively with all our health partners, including general practitioners, to make vaccination programmes as comprehensive as possible.”