A major campaign is under way to encourage our healthcare workers to get vaccinated against flu. New myth-busting posters featuring staff members have been widely distributed and this year, immunisation staff are visiting wards and clinical areas across Forth Valley to offer vaccination. This new approach is designed to make vaccination much more accessible when staff are busy and is in addition to the regular drop-in vaccination clinics in the Occupational Health Department at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.
Public Health Consultant Dr Henry Prempeh said: It’s a commonly held belief that the flu vaccine will give you flu but this is not the case as the vaccine given to health workers is NOT a live vaccine. It not only helps prevent you from getting flu, but also protects you from spreading the virus to your patients.”
Last year around 25% of frontline staff and 44% of general staff which averaged 29% of staff in NHS Forth Valley took the opportunity to be vaccinated against flu, with the Scottish Government hoping for 50 per cent. This year’s strategy therefore aims to boost numbers locally.
More information about flu and details of local staff vaccination clinics can be found on the Staff Intranet.
