An investigation is currently underway to determine why a large number of NHS staff have not received the Covid and flu vaccines. To explore the attitudes of healthcare workers towards vaccination in the North West, West Midlands, and London, the health service has enlisted the help of ‘behavioural insight’ consultants, who have been paid £50,000 for their services. The latest data reveals that only 40% of frontline NHS workers in England received the Covid booster jab, with some trusts in certain regions having a vaccination rate as low as 1%. Additionally, less than half of the staff received the flu vaccine. The NHS emphasizes that these vaccines are crucial in reducing the risk of staff members getting infected and transmitting the highly contagious viruses to patients and colleagues.
The NHS hopes that this project will uncover the reasons behind low vaccination rates and find strategies to motivate and encourage healthcare workers to get vaccinated in future vaccination campaigns. This investigation has been initiated in preparation for the upcoming winter season when the NHS is expected to face a surge in Covid and flu cases, alongside a decrease in the workforce due to staff absences. Data from last winter’s vaccination drive shows that less than half of frontline NHS staff opted to receive the flu jab or a Covid booster. The map below displays the 10 NHS trusts with the lowest vaccination rates among frontline staff.
To support the NHS vaccination campaigns, the consultancy firm ICE Creates, based in Birkenhead, has been assigned the task of uncovering the motivations behind Covid and flu vaccinations in NHS health staff and paid carer personnel working on the frontlines. The contract states that a thorough understanding of the motivators, drivers, situational changes, nudge factors, and potential steps towards a positive attitudinal and behavioral change regarding vaccination is needed. The consultancy is expected to present its findings by September 10. The latest campaign data indicates that 42.1% of frontline NHS staff received the Covid booster last autumn, compared to 68.1% this year. Additionally, only 49.9% of frontline staff received the flu vaccine during last winter’s campaign from September to February, according to a report from the UK Health Security Agency.
Frontline staff, including doctors, nurses, and midwives who directly interact with patients, have been prioritized for these vaccination drives because they often come into contact with vulnerable individuals who are at higher risk of flu and Covid, such as the elderly or immunocompromised cancer patients. Unvaccinated healthcare workers pose a greater risk of unknowingly spreading the viruses to these individuals, potentially causing severe illness and even death. The data also reveals significant variations in vaccination rates across different NHS trusts. For example, the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in the Midlands had the lowest Covid vaccine uptake in the country, with only 1.4% of staff receiving a booster. Other facilities, including The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool and Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, also had low Covid vaccination rates.
In terms of flu jabs, the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust had the lowest uptake in England with only 12.8% of staff choosing to be vaccinated. The Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust and the Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust also had low flu vaccination rates at 13.6% and 18.1%, respectively. On the other hand, the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust had the highest flu vaccine uptake, with 83.3% of frontline staff getting vaccinated. It’s important to note that the data on vaccine uptake among staff is dependent on NHS trusts submitting their information, so it may not provide a complete picture. Out of the 229 NHS trusts in England, only 198 submitted data on flu jab uptake, and 160 submitted data on Covid jab uptake, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
The data also illustrates the increasing number of Covid cases in England. In the week leading up to August 12, a total of 589 out of 6,500 neighborhoods in England detected at least three Covid cases, a significant increase from just 58 areas at the beginning of July. This upward trend is expected to continue as more people gather indoors during the colder months. Consequently, health authorities have confirmed that the Covid and flu vaccines will only be offered to individuals over the age of 65 this winter, excluding millions of eligible individuals aged 50-64.
It is important to note that the Covid jab data only covers staff who received a vaccine after September 2022, which includes individuals who received a booster in the latest campaign or those receiving the vaccine for the first time. Staff who opted for Covid vaccines in previous campaigns but did not receive one this winter are not included in the data. Some NHS trusts have disputed the accuracy of the reported vaccine uptake rates. For example, the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust stated that the data submitted to the UKHSA was incorrect, and their flu jab uptake in frontline staff was actually 41.6%. Additionally, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, which had a recorded flu uptake of 25.6%, claimed that the UKHSA data did not accurately represent the total number of staff vaccinated.
Various NHS trusts have responded to the low vaccination rates in their facilities. The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust stated that they have learned from the previous year’s flu campaign and have made improvements for the coming winter. The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, which had among the lowest flu and Covid vaccination rates, emphasized their efforts to promote vaccines as a means of protecting colleagues, families, and patients. The Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust highlighted that reporting discrepancies may have led to inaccurate data on flu jab uptake, with the actual rate being 41.6%. The Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust also disputed the UKHSA data and mentioned that 45% of their workforce had been vaccinated in previous campaigns. Bromley Healthcare acknowledged that their reported flu jab uptake of 23% may not fully reflect the actual number vaccinated, as staff may have received the vaccine outside of the organization and did not report it.
In conclusion, the NHS is investigating the reasons behind the low vaccination rates among healthcare workers and has enlisted the help of ‘behavioural insight’ consultants to understand the motivations and attitudes towards vaccination. Improving vaccination rates is crucial to reduce the risk of infections among staff and prevent the spread of viruses to vulnerable patients. The investigation’s findings are expected to provide insights and strategies to increase vaccination rates in future campaigns. With the upcoming winter season, which is anticipated to bring a surge in Covid and flu cases, it is imperative to encourage healthcare workers to get vaccinated. The data on vaccination rates among NHS staff has shown significant variations across different trusts, and there have been instances of disputed accuracy in the reported data. Health authorities are also bracing for an increase in Covid cases during the colder months, leading to a decision to limit vaccine availability to individuals over the age of 65.
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