Flu jab acceptance still below target

Why some elderly people do not take up their free flu jab was the subject of a discussion at a Southern District Health Board committee yesterday.

Southern Primary Health Organisation's latest performance results were considered by the joint disability support and community and public health advisory committee.

The results showed 66.7% of those aged 65 and over had their free vaccination in 2011, compared with 60.1% the previous year. The target is 75% or more.

Committee member Mary Flannery said she would like to know why there was such a big difference between the elderly flu vaccination rates and childhood immunisation, for which the PHO exceeded the 90% target with 93% of 2-year-olds vaccinated.

Committee chairman Dr Malcolm Macpherson said some GPs' practices aggressively marketed the free vaccine, but it was unclear whether all practices did.

Board member Neville Cook said some people did not want vaccines, and could not be forced to accept them.

Earlier, Mrs Flannery expressed concern about the number of people in the South who were not enrolled in a PHO, meaning they were not factored into the performance tables.

The number of those not enrolled was thought to be about 25,000.

Funding and finance general manager Robert Mackway-Jones said the PHO's enrolled population was rising, with 286,000 now enrolled.

Mr Cook said the transient nature of some workers, particularly in the dairy sector, meant they might not sign up with a GP, which was how people are managed by the PHO.