Vaccine uptake rates for staff at three western hospitals revealed

Concerns have been expressed at the low number of HSE staff who are getting flu vaccines each winter.

The matter was raised at the recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum West and Northwest, with one member stating it was “fundamentally wrong” for staff not to get the vaccine. 

HSE data showed that fewer than 50% of staff in three western hospitals got the vaccine during the recent flu season. The uptake rate at University Hospital Galway was 35.8%, Portiuncula University Hospital was 48% and Roscommon University Hospital was just 24%. Figures were not available for Mayo University Hospital.

Cllr Shane Forde, from Galway, expressed disappointment at the figures.

"This needs a full review, those numbers should at least be 50%, not 24% or 30%.” 

Area Health Manager Ann Cosgrove said the figures do not include data of staff going to local GPs and pharmacies for the vaccine but agreed the figures are low, adding: “We will definitely be working hard next year to increase those figures.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.