Flu season is in full swing and the Flu Fighters (#flufighter) are out in force! And not just in our hospitals but also in our social media spaces with @WeNurses welcoming the amazing @NHSFlufighter as our guest again for a WeFlustravaganza. 

Flu facts (NHS Employers 2014):

• Globally, seasonal flu accounts for three to five million causes of severe illness annually and between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths.

• It is impossible to get flu from the having the flu jab because the vaccine doesn’t contain live viruses.

• Vaccination isn’t just about keeping yourself safe, it’s about protecting your colleagues, your family and your patients.  

• If you were vaccinated last year you helped to fight the flu and took an extra step towards excellent patient care. Please do the same again this year. You won’t be protected against the new strains of flu circulating. 

• One of the most common reasons for not getting vaccinated is “I’ve never had flu before”. There’s no such thing as natural immunity to influenza; with new strains circulating this year, it’s best to get vaccinated against flu.

The good news is that the uptake of the flu vaccination continues to increase “Vaccination uptake in healthcare workers with direct patient care continues to increase, from 35 per cent in 2010/11, 45 per cent in 2011/12, 46 per cent in 2012/13 and 55 per cent in 2013/14!” (NHS Employers 2014) However the bad news is that nurses have the lowest uptake of the flu vaccine with last years figures showing that only 49% of nurses had the vaccine. We are looking forward to being joined by @WeMHnurses @WeLDnurses @WeSchoolNurses for this discussion so that they can share their thoughts as to why this is however we are also encouraging @WeParamedics @WePharmacists @WeCommissioners @WeChaplains and @WeMidwives (as well as any other passing HCPs, patients and carers!) to also join the discussion to share what they are doing well.  

So here’s what we will be asking:

• Have you had your flu vaccine? 

• Why did you have it? Or why didn’t you have it? 

• What challenges do nurses face in getting the vaccine and how can we resolve these challenges? 

• What do you think would encourage more nurses to get the flu vaccine? 

• What do you think would increase the general uptake of the flu vaccine? 

• What works in your trust? 

• What could you do to help get you and your colleagues vaccinated? 

References 

NHS Employers (2014) [Online] Flu facts and vaccination information (Accessed 21 Oct 2014) 

NHS Employers (2014) [Online] Flu Fighter (Accessed 21 Oct 2014)

Background reading 

Cummings, J. and Bennett, V (2104) [Online] Letter to nurses and midwives re seasonal flu vaccine (Accessed 21 Oct 2014)

Public Health England (2014) [Online] Healthcare worker vaccination: Clinical evidence (Accessed 21 Oct 2014)

Public Health England (2014) [Online] Public Health England and the NHS prepare for unpredictable flu season (Accessed 21 Oct 2014)