Fighting Flu: Vaccinating healthcare professionals

Since 2001, NHS Employers has worked in partnership with Public Health England, supported by the Department of Health, to successfully deliver the national staff facing flu vaccination programme: flu fighter. As the campaign enters its fifth year, the flu fighter team faces one of its biggest challenges yet. Preliminary efficacy reports from last year’s vaccine, which now show a 34% efficacy result, may have created some negative perceptions around the vaccine. Throughout 2015/16, the flu fighter campaign will be continuing to reach out to its audience on best practice, myth busting and making best use of the channels available such as social media. This handbook, written by the Flu fighter team and supported by Nursing in Practice, Management in Practice and The Commissioning Review magazines, focuses on why the seasonal influenza vaccination is particularly important for NHS staff in primary care, and addresses some common misconceptions about the vaccination. Download the full handbook here.