Chief pharmaceutical officer Dr Keith Ridge is reminding pharmacy teams of the importance of getting themselves vaccinated against flu in order to protect themselves, their patients, customers and families from the infection.

In a letter to PSNC, Dr Ridge stressed the importance of vaccine uptake among frontline healthcare workers, including pharmacy staff, to minimise the impact of the flu virus on health services during the festive period. Last year, only 50.6 per cent of frontline healthcare workers were immunised against flu, compared with 54.9 per cent in 2014/15.

Dr Ridge said: “Pharmacy professionals are reminded by the General Pharmaceutical Council to consider getting vaccinated to protect themselves, their patients and their families and to encourage their staff to
get vaccinated as well. By being immunised, pharmacy teams help protect not only themselves and their family, but also the individuals they come into contact with. Flu vaccination is an important part of infection
prevention and control.”