Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Sickness absence managementWellbeing and health promotionOccupational Health

Promote flu vaccination as a ‘positive lifestyle choice’

by Ashleigh Webber 24 May 2019
by Ashleigh Webber 24 May 2019 Image: Shutterstock
Image: Shutterstock

The flu vaccination should be promoted as a positive lifestyle choice in order to increase uptake, especially among older workers, a report has suggested.

The World Health Organization’s target for rates of influenza vaccination among older people is 75%. However, only a handful of countries have met this target in recent years, with “vaccine hesitancy” one of the most common reasons behind the lack of uptake, according to the think-tank The International Longevity Centre-UK (ILC-UK).

Flu jabs

Bupa sees rise in employees being offered flu jabs

NHS set to get tough on flu vaccination of frontline staff

Between 2005 and 2015, the average rate of flu vaccination among people aged 65 and over decreased from 49% to 43% across the 36 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

According to ILC-UK, which undertook qualitative research of 48 people aged 60 and over as part of its Under the skin report, vaccinations are usually associated with childhood and earlier stages of life rather than something that people of all ages can benefit from.

While some respondents were aware of the vaccines aimed at older people, such as flu and shingles, many thought of adult immunisation only in the context of boosters or travel vaccinations.

People were also unsure about the links between ageing and vulnerability to disease. Some believed vaccines compromised their immune system and increased the likelihood of catching an illness.

Dan Holden, a senior research fellow at ILC-UK, said the messaging around seasonal flu vaccination needs to be reframed so it is seen as a “positive lifestyle choice” like “taking vitamins or going for a walk”.

“Healthcare professionals and the media play a key role in this space, but we are all responsible to communicate positive messages about vaccination within our families, our friends, as well as the wider community,” he added.

Jane Barratt, secretary general at the International Federation on Ageing, said: “Dispelling myths around adult vaccines is a key to improving uptake rates.

“Healthy older people are at-risk of vaccine preventable diseases such as influenza and pneumonia. It really hits home though when these infections prevent us from being grandparents, volunteers and contributing members of the society.”

Last winter saw more than 2,000 admitted to hospital for critical care after a particularly severe strain of the flu virus swept the UK.

The flu vaccination has also been seen as a tool to increase productivity, with ILC-UK suggesting last year that it could save up to £28.9m in averted sick day costs.

OH job opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more OH jobs

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor of OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
Employee wins pregnancy discrimination case
next post
GDPR: Managing privacy is now key to mergers and acquisitions

1 comment

Avatar
Bob Lewis 31 May 2019 - 8:34 am

As the article rightly mentions, hesitancy in taking vaccines is a major problem around the world. One important factor is the misconception that the vaccine may cause flu. People need to understand that the vaccine takes around two weeks to develop the immunity from the time of administering and the fever like symptoms are just some minute allergies related to the shot. It has been predicted that this year’s flu may be one of the worst we have ever seen and so basic precautions are a must in order to keep the flu at bay. Special attention to hygiene must be given and moderation in daily diet is also advised. Dark chocolate, pumpkin, green tea etc are said to be notably efficient in combating the flu as this article suggests foodlocator.menu/blog/10-foods-that-help-prevent-the-flu The list of food items are vital during the peak flu season. They keep the body metabolism intact and are beneficial to health.

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Study links long Covid risk to social deprivation

26 May 2023

New occupational health technician qualification launched

26 May 2023

Warnings of dentistry crisis amid rising costs and...

26 May 2023

Third of outdoor workers never use sun protection

26 May 2023

NHS to introduce sickle cell disease blood genotyping

26 May 2023

Campaigners call for period products in workplaces

24 May 2023

Eating disorders: how occupational therapists can work with...

23 May 2023

Major conditions call for evidence an opportunity to...

22 May 2023

Severe mental illness linked to ‘preventable’ physical disease...

22 May 2023

Stroke risk fears as 1.5 million now have...

19 May 2023

  • The HR Bundle: Your one-stop guide to building a successful global HR Department PROMOTED | Get your hands on Deel’s free HR bundle...Read more
  • The Benefits of an Employee Assistance Programme PROMOTED | EAPs support employees in a range of ways...Read more
  • Intergenerational working and how to manage up and down the generations PROMOTED | The benefits and challenges of intergenerational workplaces...Read more
  • Bereavement in the workplace: How training can help HR get it right PROMOTED | HR professionals play an essential role...Read more
  • UK workforce mental wellbeing needs PROMOTED | The mental wellbeing support employers are providing misses the mark...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today