Flu Campaign

Overview

City & Hackney GP Confederation has commissioned Hackney Council to deliver a major communications campaign to encourage those eligible for the flu jab to get one this year, with a focus on the most vulnerable, NHS and care staff and children up to the age 12. 

To inform the development of the communications campaign, we’d like to gather some insight from local residents that are eligible to receive the Flu jab.  We are keen to understand the barriers to and attitudes about flu vaccination. This will help to shape the campaign messages and adapt materials as the campaign develops.  

The Flu jab/ vaccine is available every year on the NHS to help protect adults and children at risk from flu and its complications.  Flu can be more severe in certain people such as:

• Anyone aged 65 and over
• Pregnant women
• Those with underlying health conditions
• Those with weakened immune systems

Anyone in these risk groups is more likely to develop serious complications of flu, such as pneumonia (a lung infection), so it is recommended that they have a flu vaccine every year to protect them.  

Flu vaccination is particularly important this winter to ensure that the NHS does not have to cope with the twin pressures of rising Covid-19 cases, alongside a national flu outbreak.  Flu vaccination will also aid with easier identification of Covid-19, as the symptoms of the two viruses can be difficult to differentiate.  Patients will help to protect themselves too, as the flu weakens the immune system and could make patients more vulnerable to a severe Covid-19 infection.

The Government has widened criteria for flu jab eligibility for the first time to include all those between 50-64.  Children at primary school, and now those in the 1st year of secondary school, are offered a flu vaccine to be administered in school via a nasal spray.  

This is a short questionnaire which should take about 5 minutes to complete.  

Please also indicate if you are interested  in taking part in online focus groups taking placed on 3rd and 8th September.  All partcipants will receive  £20 Love2Shop voucher as a thank you for taking part in the focus group.