The NHS in Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire County Council are helping social care workers to Stay Well this Winter by offering everyone working in direct personal care a free flu vaccination.

More than 10,000 people across Oxfordshire are set to benefit from this new NHS funded scheme, including care home and hospital staff, community workers and those providing personal home support.

Care workers can now simply go to their local pharmacy or GP Practice and ask for their free flu jab, showing their ID badge as proof of employment.

Care workers in Oxfordshire will be able to get their free flu jabs before other parts of the country, thanks to local plans already put in place before the national scheme was announced. Interim funding for the vaccinations is being provided by Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) and Oxfordshire County Council and to ensure care workers can be vaccinated as early in the flu season as possible.

Dr Ed Capo-Bianco, OCCG’s South East Locality Clinical Director said: “Many people think that being fit and healthy will spare them from the flu, but everyone is susceptible. This year we are pleased to be working with Care Providers in Oxfordshire to enable their staff to get the vaccination. This will ensure that more people working in a caring role are protected against the virus. Flu is an unpredictable virus that can cause mild or unpleasant illness in most people, so protecting staff who are looking after vulnerable patients is really important.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health Hilary Hibbert-Biles said: “We value everyone working in health and social care across Oxfordshire, and we need our workforce to stay well this winter to deliver vital services. That's why we’re making it as easy as possible for everyone who works in care services to get a vaccination and help prevent the spread of the illness.

“Rolling out the free flu jabs for people working in social care early in the season is one many ways we work together to manage the impact of winter on Oxfordshire's communities and services.