Councils are being urged to make sure their health and social care colleagues get their free flu vaccination this year, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
The LGA is supporting Public Health England’s (PHE) campaign to encourage all frontline health and social care workers to protect themselves, their patients, residents and families from the flu.
This year’s vaccination programme includes the option for all social care workers to visit their GP or pharmacy for their free jab. Pharmacists can also deliver the vaccination to residential care staff.
Cllr Paulette Hamilton, Vice-Chair of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “It is absolutely critical for all health and social care workers to get themselves vaccinated, to protect themselves and the people they look after, including our older and most vulnerable people, from a potentially devastating second wave of infections.”
She also expressed the need for council directors of public health to oversee the wider rollout of the flu jab in their areas, as they have the local knowledge and expertise to ensure that as many people as possible are vaccinated.