Access and uptake of Flu Vaccinations, Cumbria

Healthwatch Cumbria became aware of an individual with physical and learning disabilities who had struggled to obtain a flu vaccination owing to systemic barriers. This influenced the development of this project which sought to find out if any other people had been affected by similar issues, thus compromising the government’s ambition to use this as a key tool to reduce winter pressures.

Healthwatch Cumbria developed two surveys: the first survey was designed to be answered by patients at the point of vaccination (pharmacies and GP surgeries); and the second was an online survey disseminated through the North Cumbria and Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Groups and the Local Pharmaceutical Committee to staff at all pharmacies and GP practices in the county.

The patient survey covered topics such as information, motivating factors and the importance of vaccination to the individual. The staff survey sought to explore the approach and experiences of staff at pharmacies and GP surgeries regarding the provision of flu vaccinations.

155 service users responded to the patient survey with 79% of the respondents reporting that they had received their flu vaccination this winter (2017/18).

The majority of patients thought that it had been easy to get a flu vaccination and that information was readily available and presented in an understandable way with 65 % acknowledging that their GP/nurse had made sure they received the vaccination.

37% of the health professionals who responded said they had been aware of individual/s who had struggled or been unable to obtain a flu vaccination, despite the fact that a large majority thought that their pharmacy or practice was doing enough to encourage uptake of flu vaccinations and provided accessible information to ensure high levels of uptake.