Health plea for Kirklees people eligible for flu vaccine to have the jab

This year 50 to 64-year-olds have been made eligible for the seasonal influenza vaccination, which began roll-out on December 1. Many GP surgeries are now arranging appointments.

But in a report to Kirklees Council’s Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel (Dec 10) figures for the four-week period between September 30 and October 31 revealed a low uptake in some age cohorts.

Of those aged 65 and over, almost 70% took part in the flu immunisation programme.

But other cohorts were much lower.

Under 65 at risk (GP registered patients) – 30.4%

Pregnant (GP registered patients) – 31.1%

Age two (not in clinical at risk group) – 29.5%

Age two (in a clinical at risk group) – 29%

All two-year-olds – 29.5%

Three-year-olds (not in clinical at risk group) – 29.8%

Three-year-olds (in clinical at risk group) – 32.3%

All three-year-olds – 30%

During the same period the uptake by schoolchildren was also low.

Reception (ages 4 and 5) – 15.2%

Year 2 (ages 6 and 7) – 15.7%

Year 3 (ages 7 and 8) – 16.4%

Year 4 (ages 8 and 9) – 15.8%

Year 5 (ages 9 and 10) – 16.1%

Year 6 (ages 10 and 11) – 12.1%

Year 7 (ages 11 and 12) – 2.3%

Among patient-facing hospital staff the numbers were higher. More than half (51.2%) of staff working for Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust – a total of 4,540 health workers – received the vaccine. Last year the number was 2,223.

And at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 55.4% of staff – 3,210 workers – had the jab. That figure was down on last year, when it reached 4,929 or 60.3%.

In a report to the panel Head of Health Protection Jane O’Donnell said early flu vaccinations were being encouraged prior to people receiving the coronavirus vaccine.

She said: “This year with Covid-19 still circulating, flu vaccinations are even more important than ever and are being provided to those most at risk of serious illness if they contract flu or Covid-19.

“50-64s have been included as a flu cohort this year, as 50 is the age at which the risk of hospitalisations for Covid-19 sharply increase, which justifies increasing protection against influenza.”

In addition this year Year 7 schoolchildren are eligible for vaccination. All school age flu jabs will be complete by December 15.