Influenza, or ‘flu’, is a highly contagious acute viral infection that affects people of all ages. Most people recover in a week or two, but flu can cause serious illness and death, especially in the very young and the elderly. Flu epidemics occur mainly in the winter and can result in widespread disruption to healthcare and other services, as a result of staff and patient sickness.Vaccinations are important for protecting staff, their families and their patients, many of whom are particularly vulnerable to flu. Vaccinations also reduce sickness absence during the busy winter period and help reduce the costs associated with absence.

Although this campaign is about staff vaccinations, the NHS can of course also offer vaccinations to patients. Non-staff members of the public who can get the flu jab free of charge on the NHS include:

• pregnant women;
• anyone with a long term condition including diabetes, asthma, kidney disease or heart or chest problems;
• people undergoing medical treatment who may have a compromised immune system;
• people with a neurological condition such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy; and
• everyone over the age of 65.
  

More information is available at www.nhsemployers.org/flu, Facebook and Twitter