Doctors fear NHS could buckle in flu season as staff avoid vaccine

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The NHS could struggle to cope with a catastrophic flu season after leading medics warned of plunging flu vaccine uptake among its frontline staff.

NHS figures show just 39 per cent of frontline staff had a flu vaccine in November, down from 52 per cent in November 2020 and 70 per cent in 2020.

The worrying statistics mean the already under-strain service could lose crucial staff to illnesses and risk spreading the virus during its busiest winter period.

Warnings have also been issued this week over pressures on the health system as junior doctors hold a three-day strike just before Christmas and have planned a five-day strike in the new year – traditionally the busiest time of year.

Last week, the government’s chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty said flu season – which traditionally takes hold in January – had officially kicked in.

Speaking to The Independent, Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “We are concerned about staff vaccination against flu. Post-pandemic, there is a certain lack of appetite and there is probably a degree of apathy about staff getting vaccinated against flu, and we think that’s a problem.

“We need to be doing more to get staff vaccinated against flu.”

He added: “I think societally, and as healthcare practitioners, we have a moral duty to get ourselves vaccinated so we don’t create gaps by going off sick and we don’t infect our patients.”

Dr Jeanette Dickson, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said: “These figures are concerning. As ever, it’s about making sure the vaccination is easily available in places and at times that suit the staff. However, given the extraordinary pressure staff are working under, they may have overlooked this simple way to protect themselves and their patients.”

On 23 November, NHS England wrote to healthcare leaders asking them to “make every effort to ensure that eligible frontline staff are offered and are easily able to access their vaccine and are encouraged to do so”.

Leaders were asked to ensure there are clearly signposted local flu and Covid vaccination arrangements for staff until 31 January 2024.

There are 1,140,978 frontline NHS staff who are eligible for a flu vaccine and pre-pandemic, 43 per cent of staff had had their vaccine by this time of the year.

Figures show 28 per cent of staff had their Covid-19 booster vaccine by November this year compared to 41 per cent last year.

The figures come following a warning from NHS England over rising flu hospital admissions, with 402 patients in hospital in the first week of December, up by two-thirds on the week before.

New figures published on Thursday show admissions last week were even higher, with more than 700 beds taken up by patients with flu on 16-17 December.

On average, more than 50,000 NHS staff members were off sick each day last week, although this is lower than the same week last year when more than 60,000 were recorded to be off.

An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS continues to make it as easy as possible for eligible frontline staff to get vaccinated to protect themselves, patients and the service, with more sites offering the vaccine than ever before.

“Both flu and Covid have a serious impact on the health of thousands of people every year, and the NHS needs as many of our staff as possible to be fighting fit over winter when the health service comes under pressure.

“It is not too late to come forward – we urge any eligible professionals who have not been vaccinated to speak to their employer to get their vaccines as soon as possible. This could save your life.”

This story was updated to reflect newer figures on flu admissions and to correct the date on which NHS England’s letter was sent