Just 23% of workers in 45 hospitals avail of flu vaccine

Health workers may have to give a written explanation justifying their refusal to have the flu vaccine after it emerged just one in four bother to avail of it.

However, the HSE and disease control experts are at odds over tougher measures to increase the numbers being vaccinated, with the HSE refusing to act on advice to make flu vaccination a condition of employment.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) says there is a “considerable challenge” ahead to get staff at hospitals and nursing homes to take the vaccine and it may have to be made mandatory.