The campaign aims to protect as many colleagues as possible ahead of winter, helping to keep themselves, their families, and those in their care – including patients and visitors – safe from flu and other respiratory illness.
The flu vaccine offers the best protection against the virus, reducing the risk of serious illness and helping to prevent outbreaks within healthcare settings. Vaccination also helps to protect the most vulnerable members of the community and supports the NHS by reducing winter pressures on services.
Leading by example, members of the Board of Directors were among the first to roll up their sleeves and receive their flu vaccination as part of the early clinics, encouraging colleagues across all sites to do the same.
To make it easy for colleagues to get protected, DBTH is offering regular drop-in clinics, roving vaccinators visiting wards and departments, and specially nominated colleagues within clinical areas who can vaccinate their own teams.
Dr Nick Mallaband, Acting Executive Medical Director at DBTH, said: “It’s fantastic to see such a strong start to our flu vaccination campaign, with one in ten colleagues coming forward in the first week. This quick uptake shows how seriously our teams take protecting themselves, their patients, and their loved ones.
“As the weather turns cooler and damper, we naturally start to see more respiratory illnesses such as rhinovirus, COVID-19 and flu. Getting vaccinated means one less thing to worry about – it helps protect you and those around you, keeping everyone a little safer this winter.”
Karen Jessop, Chief Nurse at DBTH, added: “Flu can be serious, particularly for people who are more vulnerable, such as those who are pregnant. We’re encouraging anyone who is expecting a baby to take up their free flu vaccination, which is available through our maternity clinics, GPs or local pharmacies. The vaccine is safe at any stage of pregnancy and helps protect both mother and baby.
“For everyone else, flu jabs are now available across Doncaster and Bassetlaw in most GP practices and community pharmacies, so please come forward as soon as you’re invited. Every vaccination helps protect you, your loved ones and our local NHS this winter.”
For more information about flu vaccination in pregnancy, visit www.dbth.nhs.uk
