Health and social care workers across Cornwall urged to get free flu jab
Public Health England says it will help avoid an outbreak this winter
All health and social care workers across Cornwall are being urged to get their free flu jab to help prevent outbreaks this winter.
Public Health England says having the vaccine will help to protect the most vulnerable people in the South West.
In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly last year, 48.5% of all 2-year-olds had the jab, 46.3% of all 3-year-olds, 58.6% of all primary school aged children, 43.2% of 6 month to 65 year-olds in an at-risk group, 35.1% of pregnant women and 70.6% of over 65s here had the vaccine.
Frontline staff are at higher risk of catching and of also passing on flu due to their contact with patients and those they care for.
To help increase uptake in the social care sector, for the first-time, as well as social care staff being able to get a vaccine at a pharmacy or via a GP, pharmacists will be able to vaccinate both residents and care home staff at the same time.
This approach means all frontline social care workers will be able to get a flu vaccine to protect themselves and the people they care for. This is important as staff who get flu require time off work, putting pressure on services at what can be the busiest time of the year.
In some cases, infections only result in mild or unnoticeable symptoms – meaning staff then unknowingly pass the virus to vulnerable people that they come into contact with.
Flu is very different to a normal cold and can confine the fittest of people to bed. We know that for older people or those with long-term health conditions, the effects of flu can be much more serious, and in some cases even fatal.
This year, it’s more important than ever to get vaccinated as research suggests that people infected with both flu and COVID-19 between January and April were more at risk of severe illness and death.
“Flu can be extremely serious and can lead to hospitalisation, permanent disability or even death. There is evidence that getting flu and COVID-19 at the same time can also increase the risk of becoming very seriously ill or dying. That’s why it’s more important than ever this year that staff and care home residents get vaccinated, to help reduce transmission of flu and protect against the double threat of flu and COVID-19.”
Dr Julie Yates, Lead Consultant for Screening and Immunisation at Public Health England and NHSEI South West
“This is anything but a usual year and we all want to protect ourselves, staff and those close to us from the flu. Every year it hospitalises and kills thousands.
“We are fortunate to have access to the best protection available, the flu jab. It’s essential that all health and social care workers in South West get their flu jab so they’re fighting fit to care for others ahead of what will no doubt be a busy winter.
“As well as making every effort to stop the spread of coronavirus in our hospitals and communities, we must do the same for flu.”
Director of Primary Care and Public Health Commissioning in the South West, Ian Biggs
For more information on the vaccine, visit the flu pages on the NHS website.
People who are eligible for the flu vaccine under the national programme this year include:
- Those aged 65 and over
- Those aged 6 months to 64 with a long-term health condition
- Children aged 2-3 (on 31 August 2020) via their GP practice
- School children in Reception – Year 6 (primary school)
- Year 7 children (secondary school)
- Pregnant women
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Main carers of an older or disabled person
- Household contacts of people on the NHS Shielded Patient List
- Those aged 50-64 years once uptake has been maximised in the most at-risk groups