Home / Health / NHS Flu Jab Crisis: Staff Vaccinations Plummet Amid Strike Fears
NHS Flu Jab Crisis: Staff Vaccinations Plummet Amid Strike Fears
6 Dec
Summary
- Fewer than a third of frontline NHS staff in England received flu jabs.
- Four NHS trusts report fewer than one in ten staff vaccinated.
- Thousands of flu patients expected, quadrupling current numbers.
Frontline NHS staff vaccination rates for flu have plunged significantly across England, with fewer than a third of eligible personnel receiving the jab. Alarmingly, four specific NHS trusts report that one in ten or fewer of their staff have been vaccinated. This low uptake occurs as health bosses warn of a potentially severe flu season, compounded by upcoming industrial action.
Concerns are mounting that unvaccinated staff could spread the virus, leading to increased sickness absence during the busy winter period. Current bed occupancy for flu patients is already at a record high for this time of year, with predictions of a substantial increase. NHS England has stressed the vital importance of vaccination for healthcare professionals to protect both themselves and patients.
The situation is further complicated by an impending five-day strike by resident doctors, commencing on December 17th. NHS chief executive Sir Jim Mackey described the strike as 'cruel and calculated,' predicting it could lead to a fourfold increase in daily flu patients, reaching an estimated 8,000. Efforts are underway by trusts to boost vaccination rates through flexible clinic offerings.
