Flu Vaccination Campaign For Health And Social Care Workers

Care England has welcomed the launch of the flu vaccination campaign for health and social care workers but raised concerns about the delivery mechanisms.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:

“In what is likely to be a difficult winter for the social care sector, given the potential impact of both flu and Covid-19, it is imperative that flu vaccinations are rolled out in a timely and efficient manner to health and social care staff and residents to encourage universal uptake. The delivery of the campaign must match the impetus.”

With Covid-19 still in a high state of transmission it is particularly important for all social care staff and residents to get the flu vaccine this year. The flu vaccination will help stop the spread of flu, which is enormously significant for social care settings as residents are particularly vulnerable to both flu and Covid-19.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is working with the NHS to make the flu vaccine easier to access for social care workers this year. All frontline social care workers should seek to be vaccinated due to their increased risk of catching the flu. The free flu vaccination is the best form of reducing the winter pressures borne by the health and social care sector, whilst also protecting the people cared for, team members, and family and friends.

If you are a social care employer running a local campaign, please visit PHE’s Campaign Resource Centre for support in engaging your colleagues – PHE have free print, digital and social campaign materials available.

Professor Green continues:

“It is more important than ever this year that the DHSC and NHS work to ensure that flu vaccinations reach the frontline in order to protect both those on the frontline and some of society’s most vulnerable. It must now be ensured both social care residents and staff are not only eligible for flu vaccinations, but that they are also readily available and easy to access.”