Protect yourself and those around you: a case study with Mary O’Connell
"I believe the housebound are a very vulnerable population group due to frailty and pre-existing comorbidities, therefore warrant protection against flu illness."
We have just launched a campaign to support older Londoners, including those most at risk from flu and Covid-19, with information on the benefits of the flu vaccine and how it can be accessed.
The campaign will place additional focus on targeting the boroughs in North West London because vaccine uptake is especially low, as well as BAMER older Londoners.
Mary O’Connell is a nurse practitioner at Law Medical Practice NW10 and has been giving flu jabs to housebound older people for the past couple of weeks. She has been really busy and has to get around 100 housebound patients registered with the practice. We recently spoke to Mary to ask about her thoughts on the flu jab and why it is so important to protect yourself and those around you this year.
What are your thoughts on the flu jab? Have they changed in light of the current situation?
'In several studies, it has been demonstrated that the flu vaccination reduces flu illness and reduces the risk of more serious flu outcomes that result in hospitalization or even death in older people. I think this year, because of the Covid-19 virus, more people want to be vaccination, many feel flu illness would increase their risk of developing Covid disease because of the challenge to their immunity.
I believe the housebound are a very vulnerable population group due to frailty and pre-existing comorbidities, therefore warrant protection against flu illness.'
Photos were taken at the house of Mr and Mrs Austin who are housebound.
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