HEALTH and social care organisations are making sure that people who work in healthcare are immunised against flu this winter.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxfordshire County Council, South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have all embarked on their annual flu programmes, vaccinating the thousands of workers who look after individuals, families and friends.

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By vaccinating front line staff, each organisation can stop people from catching the virus and passing it on to the sick and vulnerable.

It also means health and social care organisations can be more resilient during the coming busy winter months.

Healthcare workers in hospitals and out in the community are eligible for free quadrivalent jabs – which contain four strains of flu to provide maximum cover.

Oxford Health provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset and aims to vaccinate more than 5,000 of its frontline workforce.

Marie Crofts, chief nurse at Oxford Health, said: "With fresh arrivals of the vaccine we have started our special clinics and drop-in sessions for frontline staff.

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"We work in a caring profession, so let’s all make sure we have a jab - and look after each other as well as our patients, friends and family."

For more information about the flu vaccine and advice on how to stay well this winter, go to oxfordshire.gov.uk.