The NHS influenza vaccination rate among healthcare workers decreased

Government figures show that the amount of England-based frontline healthcare workers who took up the offer of an NHS influenza vaccination has decreased for the first time in six years in 2021/2022.

Published on 30 June 2022, a report from the UK Health Security Agency evidenced that the vaccination rate among healthcare workers decreased from 76.8% in the 2020/2021 season to 61.4% in the 2021/2022 season.

Among frontline healthcare workers, the vaccination rates missed targets in July 2021, set by the government, to have 85% take up the offer in 2021/2022.

Community pharmacists delivered the highest number of flu vaccinations in the 2021/2022 flu season at 4.8 million, in the second year of extended suitability to include those aged 50-64 years of age and not considered clinically at risk.

Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s English Pharmacy Board, Thorrun Govind, stated: “It’s concerning that there’s been a drop in healthcare professionals being vaccinated against flu in England. We actively and strongly encourage all pharmacists and teams to get vaccinated unless there is a medical reason why they cannot. The NHS provides access to free flu jabs to pharmacy teams across primary care. We look forward to pharmacists and their teams being recognised again this year and protection provided for themselves and the public as an essential part of infection control and disease prevention.”