Are you ready for your vital role this winter?

Preparations for a possible second wave of COVID-19 this winter are well underway. While the Government works with primary and secondary care to ensure the NHS can cope with increased demands in case of an escalation in COVID-19 infections, public health is also at the forefront of the response. Practice nurses, as always, have a key role to play in this.

The rollout of an extended flu vaccination scheme will be crucial to managing demands on the NHS this winter. The aim is to vaccinate over 30 million people this year—more than double last year's number. While flu vaccination is always important, this year the efforts of practice nurses could have a huge impact on the nation's health. Reducing flu cases will free up capacity elsewhere in the NHS, not to mention keep the informal care that is provided by family members going—something that is often forgotten about but is key to managing pressure on social care. Practices will need to come up with creative ways to administer these extra doses of vaccine and we eagerly await more details on the programme from the four nations so planning can begin in earnest.