Question reference: S5W-32730
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 22 October 2020
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Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 17 November 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that teachers and school staff in (a) Glasgow and (b) Scotland who have been eligible for a flu vaccination via their school in previous years will receive a flu vaccination this year, given the announcement by Glasgow City Council’s HR department that, due to COVID-19, the annual flu vaccination programme for teachers will not now be running.
Answer
Teachers and school staff have received the flu vaccine in previous years as a result of arrangements with local authorities. This is a decision for local authorities to make.
This year the Scottish Government has expanded the eligibility of the seasonal flu vaccine with the aim to vaccinate more adults in the groups with existing eligibility, which mean that we intend to vaccinate more people than ever before, covering up to 2.4 million people across Scotland. Teachers who fall within relevant at risk categories, will be eligible for the vaccine.