19th October 2017
Care workers are now able to access the flu vaccine free of charge
National Care Association receives frequent inquiries regarding the flu vaccination for social care staff which providers/employers have to pay for.
We have been working with other colleagues on this matter and have just had the confirmation below from the Department of Health which is a great breakthrough.
"We are pleased to confirm that last week NHS England announced that for this winter they will expand the GP and national pharmacy influenza vaccination service so that paid care workers in the independent and voluntary social care sector are also able to access the flu vaccine via local GPs and pharmacies free of charge. This will supplement the existing responsibility of employers of these staff to ensure that they are vaccinated..... NHS England will be confirming the mechanism for how care workers access the new free service shortly."
"All social care providers, nursing homes, residential care homes and domiciliary care providers should ensure any of their staff directly involved in delivering care are offered immunisation, either as part of their existing occupational health responsibilities, or the expanded GP and national pharmacy service when arrangements for this are confirmed. This will supplement the existing responsibility of employers of these staff to ensure that they are vaccinated and we would urge you to ensure arrangements already in place to vaccinate care workers continue."
