'Hyper local vaccine push needed amid worst flu season'

A county's approach to encouraging vaccine uptake has been praised as the NHS faces what some have called the worst flu season in decades.

Charity The King's Fund said the "hyper local" approach used in Gloucestershire during the Covid-19 pandemic should be adopted across the UK.

Gloucestershire's Integrated Care Board (ICB), which commissions health care in the county and also commissioned the report, was praised for using community spaces for vaccine delivery and local GPs inviting patients to have the drug.

Prior to the pandemic, the county's vaccine take-up among at-risk groups had been below the national average, but this was improved dramatically during the pandemic.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Gloucestershire's flu vaccination rate among at-risk groups was 45%, which was slightly below the national average of 46%.

During the pandemic, vaccine uptake among most groups was consistently higher than the national average, and Gloucestershire now ranks among the top-performing areas.

Flu vaccine uptake among at-risk groups is at 50%, compared to a national average of 41%.

As well as the use of community spaces and drive through sites, other reasons cited for the improvement include that patients were often invited for vaccines by their own GP practices and greeted by staff they knew.

Beccy Baird, senior fellow at The King's Fund and joint author of the report, said a "one-size-fits-all approach" to health care does not work for all.

"When local health leaders are trusted and empowered to work hand-in-hand with their communities, care became more personal, more effective, and more equitable," she said.

"Now more than ever, vaccine uptake campaigns must be driven locally by people who are known and trusted."

The number of flu patients in hospital has hit a record high in England.

NHS figures show there were an average of 1,700 patients in hospital with flu last week - that is more than 50% higher than the same time last year - and early indications from this week are that hospitalisations have continued climbing sharply since.

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