Protect yourselves with the flu jab

Published: 06 September 2012

The Royal College of Nursing is advising health care staff to protect themselves this winter by having the flu vaccine.

Vaccination also helps to prevent the spread of flu to families, colleagues, patients and other members of the community.

Rebecca Cheatle, RCN Primary Health Care Adviser, said that all RCN members who are eligible for the vaccine, that is, health and social care staff who are directly involved in the care of patients or clients, should discuss with their line managers how they may go about receiving the flu vaccine for this year.

“The RCN maintains that it is right that any organisation which provides health care should be responsible for ensuring that their front line staff who have direct contact with patients are vaccinated," she said.

“Vaccination is in the interest of staff, employers and patients. Whether you are employed by the NHS or privately, your employer should be able to arrange for staff to be vaccinated, at no cost.”