Health professionals providing direct patient care are eligible for the immunisation to protect the health of patients and keep services running this winter.

Mandy Lees, Emergency Planning Lead for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says: “The vaccination programme is on-going and we've made good progress in just a month. It is vital that frontline staff now take the opportunity to be vaccinated as quickly as possible, in order to ensure that they themselves do not become ill and – just as importantly – that they cannot unknowingly infect colleagues and patients, who may feel the effects much more severely than them.”

Hilary Winch, Occupational Health Nurse Manager at NNUH, who leads the vaccination programme says: “We have been visiting ward areas to make it easier for doctors and nurses to have the vaccination without leaving their busy work area.”

“The immunisation programme has been well received by our health professionals who have been keen to protect the health of vulnerable patients.”

The key message for healthcare staff is: Remember – If you can’t catch it, you can’t pass it on.

Patients can get more information about swine flu at www.nhs.uk or by telephoning 0800 1 513 513.