Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Flu vaccinations ‘vital’
More jabs than ever planned this winter
A FLU vaccination programme will target more people than ever this winter – and a health campaigner says it’s vital.
Jabs start next month, offering for the first time free vaccinations to social care workers and, from December, people aged 55-64.
New temporary emergency powers have also been granted to community pharmacists to administer the vaccines.
Health campaigner Andrew Rodger, a former chairman of Fife Health Board, said: “An influx of flu cases would have a major impact on hospitals across Tayside and Fife.
“European hospitals tend to operate at 80% capacity, which leaves them room for manoeuvre, but here over winter its not uncommon for hospitals to be at 100%.
“Like Covid testing, it’s all very well talking about capacity in numbers but it’s how much of that capacity being used that’s important.
“The same applies for flu vaccinations. I understand two and half million people will be vaccinated across Scotland this winter but we must get the details of how exactly this will be done.
“There are usually 20,000 deaths from flu in winter – vaccination is all about prevention.”
Dorothy McHugh, secretary of Dundee Pensioners’ Forum, said she was worried supply may fall short of what is needed.
She added: “There are concerns for us about the supply for elderly people who are most vulnerable and have had it worst in this pandemic.
“The top priority for these flu vaccines, of course, needs to be people over 65 who are most vulnerable and we need to hope there is a proper infrastructure to get these vaccines out.”
From next month, free jabs are being offered to all primary school children and those aged two to five, as well as anyone 65 and over, those with eligible health conditions, pregnant women, healthcare workers and unpaid carers.
The second phase, which starts in December, will – depending on the availability of supplies – include those aged 55-64.
Jane Forbes, NHS Tayside’s vaccine project manager, said: “With the possibility of Covid-19 circulating alongside flu this winter, in order to protect our most vulnerable population and reduce the impact on our health and social care services, NHS Tayside is planning on vaccinating more individuals than ever before.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government has procured enough vaccine to vaccinate all those with existing eligibility, and we have also worked with the Department for Health and Social Care as part of a four nations approach to secure a further 500,000 doses, which will allow us to vaccinate everyone who is eligible under the expansion of our seasonal flu vaccination programme.”