NHS Roving Vaccination Unit Tackles Surge in 'Super Flu' Across the South East

The NHS is rolling out a 'roving' vaccination unit to try and increase the take-up of the treatment as hospitals battle a surge in flu cases before Christmas. A new mutation of the virus is driving an unusually early flu season, with hospitalisations rising rapidly in some areas across the south east, ahead of a five-day doctor strike due to start on Wednesday (17 December).

Strategic Deployment of Mobile Vaccination Units

To reduce the strain on services, a mobile vaccination van is offering the flu jab to people who might not be able to access a pharmacy. The unit targets hard-to-reach areas in Kent and offers vaccinations without an appointment. Pharmacist Olly Basau-Sanni, who is running the mobile vaccination unit in Rochester, said: "The beauty of having a roving unit is you're able to go to some of those hard to reach pockets."

He added that the service is essential for "those places where people have limited access, either because they've lost their pharmacy or their pharmacy is not doing all the services." Patients can get a flu vaccination at the mobile unit without having to book an appointment beforehand, as the mission is very much driven by data.

The Threat of the H3N2 'Super Flu' Mutation

Hospitals across the country have been reacting to the Influenza A mutation, known as H3N2 and nicknamed 'super flu'. At Darent Valley hospital in Dartford, staff and visitors have been asked to wear masks in all clinical areas. There'll also be enhanced cleaning, and temporarily limited visiting on wards with flu patients. Elsewhere, University Hospitals Sussex has also imposed mask wearing in clinical areas to manage the outbreak.

Vaccination Take-up Data and Statistics

Where the data is low is where the roving unit goes to. Current government data highlights the following vaccination rates:

• People aged over 65 in England: 75 per cent take-up.
• People in the 'at-risk' category: 40 per cent take-up.

Impact of Industrial Action on Health Services

The outbreak continues as resident doctors today (15th December) voted to go on strike for five days after the British Medical Association (BMA) rejected an offer from the government. The union voted by 83% to 17% to continue with the strike action, with a turnout of 65%. The BMA had been consulting resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, on whether or not to press ahead with a five-day walkout from 7am on December 17 to 7am on December 22.