There will now be a drive to increase numbers, keep midwives fit for work and stop the virus being passed on to clients.
Midwives are also being asked to advise mothers to get vaccinated.
Louise Silverton, RCM deputy general secretary, said:
‘Midwives are strongly advised to encourage all pregnant women to be
vaccinated against seasonal flu.
‘In addition, midwives as key health workers should
themselves seriously consider being vaccinated to prevent transmission
of influenza to the women for whom they care and also to their own
families.’
The new figures show that the number of midwives and nurses who had the jab is up 10% from the previous year.
But the target for this year is to increase uptake from 30% to 60%, with the aim of numbers rising again to 75% in 2013/14.
Chief
medical officer Dame Sally Davies said: ‘It is never too early to start
thinking about flu. So, as NHS staff return from their holidays, I urge
them to plan ahead and get vaccinated.’
A national
NHS staff seasonal flu vaccination campaign is due to launch later this month.
This is being headed-up by NHS Employers, which will cascade key messages through all NHS trusts.
Social media sites, such as
Facebook and
Twitter, will also be used to spread the word and leaflets will be distributed to promote the vaccination.
