This year’s flu season has arrived early and we are already staring to see an increase in cases.
People with respiratory disease are particularly more vulnerable to the flu and its serious complications including severe illness, hospitalisation and even death.
Influenza is a leading cause of illness and death worldwide and, locally, data shows that patients with respiratory disease make up a significant portion of flu-related hospitalisations. In the 2024/25 winter season, we saw some of the highest numbers of acute admissions for flu since before the pandemic.
As health and social care workers we all have a responsibility to protect patients and ourselves and one very important way we can do this during winter is to get the flu vaccination.
Getting the flu vaccine this year is the best way to protect your patients, yourself and your family and the vaccination team are doing everything they can to make access to the flu vaccine easier. There will be local access across our three acute sites with peer immunisation clinics and options to book appointments at any of our vaccination clinics.
You are still able to book an appointment in the Occupational Health departments in each of the 3 acute hospitals with the exception of Thursday 20th November.
You can also drop in to occupational health clinics between 09:00 to 12:45 and13:30 to 15:45
Occupational health staff will be roaming across the three acute sites arranging visits to clinical departments. In addition, any departments that have a number of staff wishing vaccinated can contact the local occupational health department to arrange a date and time for a site visit.
