Members briefing for Staff Influenza Vaccination Programme

Every year Gloucestershire County Council delivers an influenza vaccination programme to our staff. This helps to protect our staff against influenza, and also helps to safeguard our vulnerable clients, families and communities. Influenza can be devastating illnesses, which can lead to hospital admissions and even death for our more vulnerable populations. It is also a key factor in helping staff to stay healthy during the winter period, which has impacts on absenteeism and presenteeism (when a person attends work but is not productive). Research has shown that staff influenza vaccination programmes are cost-effective in terms of the impact on reducing absenteeism rates. Moreover, it also has a wider positive impact on our local population, as the more people who are vaccinated the more difficult for the disease to spread from person to person. This is very important for our client facing staff members, who are often seeing people who have pre-existing medical conditions which make them particularly susceptible to influenza.

A part of this year’s programme the offer of the vaccine is being extended to all Gloucestershire County Council elected members. This is a good opportunity to make sure that our elected members can stay healthy and active during the seasonal flu period. It also sets a strong example to Gloucestershire County Council officers of the importance of this vaccine to protect the vulnerable members of our community, and to contribute to the resilience of Gloucestershire County Council.

The staff influenza vaccination programme is delivered through onsite vaccination clinics and also available through a Gloucestershire based pharmacy chain. Details about how to book onto clinics or access the vaccine from your local pharmacy will be coming out in September. We hope that elected members will join staff in taking up vaccination against this important disease.