Flu vaccinations will be available for all staff working in optical practice in England for the first time this influenza season (1 September 2021 to 31 March 2022).
In a letter to frontline primary health care practices and bodies in England, NHS England (NHSE) confirmed that additional funding had been made available to general practices and community pharmacies to vaccinate all eligible primary care contractors and their frontline staff, including locums.
Debbie McGill, ABDO head of policy and public affairs, commented: “This is the first time that the influenza vaccination has been made available to NHS primary optical care providers and their frontline staff.
“We are pleased to now have the profession included, following years of lobbying by ABDO, the Association of Optometrists, the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians and the College of Optometrists.”
NHSE has stated that primary care contractors “are expected to support the vaccination of frontline staff through occupational health services already in place, or encourage their staff to visit a general practice or community pharmacy to be vaccinated”.