With now over 80% of those aged 65 and over in England having received the flu vaccine so far this year, North Swindon MP has joined the list of those thanking NHS staff for their role in making this possible, and bearing the season flu strain well despite the added pressures of the pandemic.
NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England (PHE) and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and other have been thanking health care workers for their efforts, which for the flu vaccines, mean the highest uptake on record.
Despite the complexities of rolling out the largest national NHS flu immunisation programme during a COVID-19 winter, NHS staff have vaccinated a record 80.3% of those aged 65 years and over in England against flu so far this year.
Flu vaccine uptake rates are higher than the same time last season for all other eligible groups. This includes an uptake rate of 51.5% in clinical at-risk groups (aged under 65 years), which is the highest achieved in the last seven seasons.
These figures are a reflection of the hard work of the wide range of NHS and public health professionals involved in planning and delivering the national immunisation programme.
North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson said:
“Whilst Covid-19 has become the major focus of public health attention, we simply cannot overlook the incredible efforts of NHS workers in bearing the burden when it comes to all the other health issues as well. These can range from chronic illness, A&E and seasonal viruses like the flu. I’m grateful to all our NHS workers for their efforts and congratulate them on increasing the uptake of flu vaccines.”
Public Health Minister, Jo Churchill said:
“It is fantastic to see that despite the unique challenges of this winter, more over 65s than ever before have had their flu vaccination and that there is such high uptake across the eligible groups.
Every year health and care staff do an incredible job rolling out the flu vaccine, and this year the COVID-19 vaccine too, to protect us all.”
