Guest blog: Being a flu champion and why the jab is so important.

As we get into the very heart of winter, we are continuing our flu campaign to make sure all members of staff have the opportunity to be protected by the flu jab.

Paramedic Cliff Parsons has worked for the Trust for 18 years and is a flu champion for north and east Herts. Cliff tells us about his work as a flu champion - and why he’d like colleagues to protect themselves from flu.

What is a flu champion? Well a flu champion needs to be able to promote and encourage all staff to have the flu vaccine – it’s something that appeals to me.

I am a proactive person. I enjoy being amongst work colleagues out there on the frontline, looking after their wellbeing, administering flu vaccinations, and answering any questions they may have or any misconceptions regarding immunisation.

I find being a flu champion both very rewarding, and challenging, due to the fact that frontline staff are never in one place long enough. So it’s definitely a challenge to make contact with them and give them the option to have a flu vaccination during their shift, and in some cases on their rest days.

But it’s very important that ambulance staff are protected against the flu virus for their own and others wellbeing. The flu virus is highly contagious and can spread rapidly to other members of staff, their families and vulnerable patients in their care regardless of ages, general health and fitness.

By members of staff having the flu vaccination, it will help to reduce short term sickness and in turn will cause less disruption to the service.  Vaccination is the simplest and most effective way of safeguarding against the spread of flu within the workforce each winter.

I would like to take the time to thank the HR and all involved with this year’s flu programme. They have done a wonderful job promoting flu immunisation across the Trust.

Don’t forget to send your completed flu vaccination form, whether you have had your jab or declined it, your name will be put into a draw for a spa day. Good luck to everybody in the draw!

Published 2nd December, 2016