It urges more NHS staff to get vaccinated against flu as Britain prepares for the coldest part of the Winter in the New Year.

This comes as the latest official figures reveal that 40 per cent(1) of front-line NHS staff have received the jab this year. Only 17.6 per cent of front-line staff had been vaccinated by this time last year and this reached 34.7 per cent(2) by the end of last winter.

NHS Employers points out that the flu data is a lagging indicator and therefore the true figure is likely to be higher. It says the latest data suggests great progress but urges more staff to get a jab because the peak flu periods are probably still to come.

Dean Royles, director of the NHS Employers organisation that is leading the national campaign, says:

"Staff are responding to our campaign and this means a safer Christmas for patients and staff. Vaccinations protect patients, staff and their families and we are really pleased staff have taken this to heart.

"But over half of NHS front-line staff haven't been vaccinated and we are really encouraging them to do so. We want staff to do themselves a favour and try to arrange their jab before Christmas or make it a new year's resolution to do so. Local trusts have made arrangements that means having a jab should be quick and convenient."

The NHS Employers organisation is running the campaign on behalf of the Social Partnership Forum, bringing together NHS employers, trade unions and the Department of Health.

More information is available at www.nhsemployers.org/flu and also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nhsflufighter) and Twitter (@nhsflufighter).