Health chiefs in Milton Keynes are ramping up plans to give free flu jabs to thousands more people, despite having a record of failing to hit many of their immunisation targets.
This year the over-50s have been added by the Government to the list of those eligible for free flu vaccinations, doubling the total numbers it wants to see protected.
Muriel Scott, the city’s director of public health, challenged her colleagues across the social and primary care system to think differently this year to ensure as many people as possible can receive their flu jabs.
This year they also want 100 per cent of front line health and social care workers to get their flu jabs.
In the 2019/20 flu season nearly 81 per cent of Milton Keynes Hospital’s healthcare workers were vaccinated, the meeting was told.
Health experts are looking to stop people from getting flu at the same time as they prepare for a potential second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We don’t consistently hit targets across the key groups,” she said.
Her report to a meeting this week said “it is critical that the local population is protected against seasonal flu.”
But Muriel Scott pointed out that two years ago they did not hit their targets and last year they “slipped back even further.”
Wednesday’s meeting of the health and wellbeing board also heard that this year people would not be able to sit around in waiting rooms, and school age children may not be in classrooms.
“We need to think differently about achieving the target,” she said.
The meeting heard that planning is under way to do that in the primary and social care system.
Last year there were problems with getting hold of enough of the vaccines.
This year, GPs, pharmacies and schools are being advised to get stock from more than one supplier.
The aim is to give all vulnerable people their jab before the end of November and then start a campaign to encourage the over 50s.
MK Council leader Pete Marland (Lab, Wolverton) asked if there is a risk that they could “spend a lot of time and effort chasing” fit and healthy people which “diminishes the effort in the vulnerable group where flu might do most damage.”
But he was told that the top priority would be those people who are at risk.
The NHS is due to contact people directly, including information about where to go to get the vaccine.
Members of the health and wellbeing board also heard that data about other immunisations, for diseases like measles, are being monitored to make sure that children are protected.
