There was a report in one of the medical comics last year that Birmingham
was considering 'flu jabs for over 65s as part of the winter pressures
initiative I don't know whether it happened. I tried to persuade my HA
(Berks) to do it but there are so strapped for cash they can't seem to think
about clinical problems. The NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at
York went over the evidence for flu jabs and the healthy elderly in one of
its Effectiveness Bulletins and concluded that it is one of the most cost
effective measures that the NHS could introduce with an NNT ranging between
40 - 80 (depending on prevalence) for saving lives, compare this with other
preventitive treatments such as cervical smears with NNTs over 500!. Like
David Plews I am applying for Waiting List money to try and get this going
Berkshire wide but I only got the appliation form on Monday with a closing
date tomorrow (Wednesday)!!! I have been busy typing all today.
We introduced a over 65 policy in out TPP last year (pop about
90,000) and managed to get an overall rate of 43% for over 65s compared with
the national average of 20% odd. We were also able to negotiate some pretty
impressive discounts rfom the manufacturers, this year we are getting 50%
discount.
If people are interested I have plenty of references for 'flu papers and
a discussion paper written by myself and our local Public Health Consultant
going over the evidence for flu jabs and plenty of advice for best practice
etc. Please contact me in the usual way. As you can gather it is a hobby
horse of mine!
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 05 June 1998 21:07
Subject: flu vaccs
Does anybody know of any health distircts encouraging 'flu
vaccinations to all 65's and over?
cheers
Dr David J Plews
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