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NHS Confederation - Expansion of flu programme welcome but more detail is needed

Dr Graham Jackson, senior clinical advisor at the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, responded to the announcement about this year’s comprehensive flu programme 

“The success of this campaign will be more crucial than ever before as the NHS plans for a winter which could see the resurgence of the pandemic as well as the pressures from the anticipated surge in demand of other infectious diseases including flu.

“The decision to expand the free availability of the vaccine to protect vulnerable people is welcome and we would encourage all health and care staff to be vaccinated where appropriate.

“More details are needed about the extra funding for primary care to help administer the biggest and most comprehensive flu campaign that this country has ever seen.

“GP practices, Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and other providers will want assurances that more vaccine will be available to match demand. We will seek to have immediate conversations with NHS England and NHS Improvement about the co-ordinating role of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

“We expect the Care Quality Commission to take into account the scale of the challenge and that pragmatic solutions will be needed regarding the health and safety issues of delivering vaccinations offsite. Extra supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) will also be needed.

“Flu coordinators in systems must address concerns that health inequalities could be worsened because vulnerable people needing the vaccination do not seek it.” 

Most comprehensive flu programme in UK history will be rolled out this winter

Original article link: https://www.nhsconfed.org/news/2020/07/flu-programme-expansion

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