Flu jab in Medway and Swale must be taken by all patients ahead of winter threatened by Covid-19 second wave
14:37, 17 September 2020
updated: 15:19, 17 September 2020
A wider flu jab programme is set to be rolled out this year with everyone urged to get vaccinated as the threat of a second wave of Covid-19 looms during the winter months.
James Devine, the chief executive of the Medway NHS Foundation Trust, believes getting the jab is a "social responsibility" for all members of the community to protect the most vulnerable patients and the NHS.
He says while there's not been any clinical evidence to suggest catching flu increases someone's chances of contracting coronavirus, people should get one to reduce the potential risks if they or vulnerable members of the community catch Covid-19.
"I don't know if you can draw a comparator between flu and Covid and if there's any clinical evidence to support it," Mr Devine said.
"What you can say with confidence is in a time when you generally have colder weather and people can get respiratory issues like flu – enhanced by people with asthma or COPD – then Covid isn't going to help that.
"If you can encourage individuals to get a flu jab then that can only be a good thing.
"If you get the flu jab it will certainly keep you relatively well than if you don't have it.
"People should take up their flu jab and the community needs to act as a community in the way it did during April, May and June."
Mr Devine urged everyone to get the flu jab and for the first time Medway Maritime Hospital will be offering it on the doors when people arrive.
He says it is important to myth-bust surrounding the jabs and that it will protect people more.
"I've had a flu jab every year and never had flu. Some people will say they've had a jab and I'll get flu," Mr Devine said. "The statements of 'if I have a flu jab, I'll get flu' are just simply not true.
"Will there be a wider programme this year? Absolutely there will be.
"We'll be encouraging not just our colleagues but community and particularly in-patients and out-patients as well and offering them to have them as they come here.
"People assume it only happens to old people but you can be a carrier and pass it on"
"That's not happened previously.
"Normally it's very self-driven. But the thing is people assume it only happens to old people and if you're young and in your 20s, 30s or 40s you don't need it.
"Actually, you can be a carrier of flu and pass it on in the same way you can for any infection.
"Keeping yourself fit and well might be your priority but there's a social responsibility not to pass it on to those vulnerable groups."
