MEDICAL workers in Bury are rolling up their sleeves to protect vulnerable patients from flu.

Bosses at community health provider Pennine Care are hoping more than 5,000 of its staff, equivalent to 75 per cent, will be vaccinated by February.

In total, 5,258 care staff, including bank and temporary workers, are set to be immunised to prevent the spread of the virus.

More than 100 vaccination sessions in Bury, Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, Glossop and Trafford – the areas Pennine Care covers – have been held since the campaign launched last month, with more than 1,000 workers already vaccinated.

Top bosses including chief executive Michael McCourt have thrown their support behind the campaign and have already had their flu vaccines.

Mr McCourt said: "As a former frontline health professional, and because I’m frequently out and about, I have my flu jab every year. I’ve always felt a personal responsibility for protecting the health of patients, colleagues and my family and continue to take this responsibility seriously.”

For vulnerable people, such as children, the elderly and those with long term health conditions or a weakened immune system, flu can lead to infections, complications or be fatal.

Frontline NHS staff are four times more likely than the general public to catch flu. Last year, Pennine Care’s staff uptake for the vaccine was 59 per cent.

Leading the campaign is Ian Trodden, acting executive director of nursing. He said: “We know that our staff are busy and can struggle to find the time to attend a vaccination session.

“To address this, we have made many improvements to make it as easy as possible for them to have their flu jab.”

Chairman John Schofield added: “While we are nationally required to achieve a 75 per cent uptake to, it’s not about simply clocking up numbers.

“This is about each and every member of staff being confident we have done our bit to protect the 1.3 million service users we are responsible for.”

The flu vaccine is available free to people who are 65 and over, pregnant women and those with a long term condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

Carers and those living in nursing or residential homes are also offered the vaccine, as well as children aged two to four.

To read a blog busting inaccurate myths about flu: go to penninecareceo.blogspot.co.uk/