Welsh voluntary carers eligible for free flu vaccination
by Pharmacy Life - Published on 14 September 2014
People who provide care on a voluntary basis in Wales will be
eligible to receive the seasonal flu vaccine free of charge this autumn.
The change affects those individuals who volunteer and are not paid to provide frequent care to one or more elderly, disabled or vulnerable people as part of an organisation.
A carer who has flu could pass the infection to someone in their care, risking their welfare, as older people and those with existing health conditions are more susceptible to the complications of flu.
Volunteers working in a caring capacity on behalf of an organisation can have the vaccine
by taking a letter from their organisation confirming their eligibility to their GP.
People who care voluntarily but not as part of an organisation – for example those who look after a relative or friend – are also eligible for vaccination and need only tell their GP they are a carer.
As well as carers, free vaccination against seasonal flu is offered in Wales to people age 65 and over, people with health conditions that make them more likely to suffer complications from flu, frontline healthcare workers and
pregnant women.
Flu vaccination is also recommended for social care workers with direct client contact which is the responsibility of the employer to provide. Children aged two, three and four, and those in school year seven, are also eligible for the nasal spray flu vaccine.
'We strongly recommend the free NHS flu vaccination to people caring in a voluntary capacity,' said
Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme of Public Health Wales. 'By having the vaccine, they can not only protect themselves against what can be a very unpleasant illness, but can help make sure they do not pass the virus to those they are caring for, who may be at risk of the complications of flu.
'Flu can cause serious illness and death in older people and those who already have other health conditions. Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent flu illness this winter.'