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<p>We have no plans to mandate the provision of the annual flu vaccination.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Frontline health and social care workers have a duty of care
to protect their patients and service users, colleagues and family members from infection.
Therefore, as in previous years, free flu immunisation should be offered by National
Health Service organisations to all employees directly involved in delivering care.
This is not an NHS service, but an occupational health responsibility being provided
to NHS staff by employers. Social care providers and independent primary care providers
should also consider vaccination of staff.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Health
and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections
and related guidance, emphasises the need to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable,
that care workers are free of and are protected from exposure to infections that can
be caught at work and that all staff are suitably educated in the prevention and control
of infection associated with the provision of health and social care.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>The Code of Practice states that registered providers should ensure
that policies and procedures are in place in relation to the prevention and control
of infection. This includes access to occupational health services and that employers
should make vaccine available free of charge to employees if a risk assessment indicates
that it is needed.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A copy of the Health and Social Care
Act 2008, Code of Practice is attached.</p><p> </p>
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