Flu Jab Uptake Shows Big Increase

Three times as many staff at West Mid take up flu injection

A record number of staff at West Middlesex University Hospital have taken up the seasonal influenza injection this year following a publicity campaign to encourage workers to avail of the free jab.

Nearly 500 vaccinations have been administered at drop-in clinics around the hospital, compared with 150 this time last year. This is more than a three-fold increase in the uptake.

The vaccination provides protection against three strains of flu, including swine flu.

It’s hoped that the success of the vaccination programme will help protect patients and visitors to the hospital from the flu virus.

The incidence of flu increases over the winter period, and the hospital hopes that the increased uptake of the vaccination will reduce staff sickness over the season.

The Occupational Health & Wellbeing Department has arranged drop-in clinics around the hospital as well as ‘walk around’ clinics where a nurse has gone to busy departments to provide the jab to staff who might struggle to take a break from their duties.

Anna Marie Mitchell, Occupational Health & Wellbeing Manager, said:
“Trust staff are realising the importance of protecting themselves, their patients and their families from flu. This year we have had a robust plan of publicity around the flu vaccination programme which has worked well to encourage a high uptake.”

December 13, 2011