NHS England confirms free flu jabs to be scrapped for dentists
NHS England has confirmed that free flu vaccines for dental teams will not be available in 2022/2023.
During the pandemic, dental professionals were encouraged to take up free flu jabs to lower risks, as Covid-19 and flu circulated at the same time. NHS England representatives have confirmed that free jabs will not be extended for 2022/2023.
In 2021/2022, the NHS embarked upon the largest scale vaccination programme ever, providing free Covid vaccines and flu jabs to millions of people. The aim was to encourage as many of those who were eligible to have a free flu vaccine to take up the offer to reduce the risk of infection and hospitalisation.
The government has now lifted restrictions and has switched focus to living with Covid. While anyone who has not had their Covid vaccine will still be able to access free jabs, other measures, such as wearing a face covering and social distancing, have been scrapped.
As infection rates fall and the number of people needing hospital treatment decreases, there are also new rules on testing and isolation. People who test positive no longer have to isolate and free testing will end for most people in April.
The move to terminate free flu vaccines for dental professionals has been criticised by the British Dental Association (BDA). Eddie Crouch, chair, said that dentists are once again being excluded from the “NHS family” and accused the government of sending out “dreadful” public health messages.
Mr Crouch said that nothing had changed in terms of Covid circulating at the same time as flu and suggested that dentists should be protected by the NHS.
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