Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the government’s push to boost flu vaccinations but is calling for shop workers to be included in a programme of free jabs, warning that rising illness rates risk disrupting essential grocery services in the run-up to Christmas.
More than 17 million flu vaccinations have already been delivered across the UK this season, but Usdaw says retail staff – who interact with hundreds or even thousands of customers each day – remain particularly exposed. The union is also urging employers to ensure staff are given paid time off to get vaccinated.
Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas said the situation had become increasingly urgent as flu spreads rapidly through communities. “Retail staff deal with hundreds if not thousands of shoppers every day, particularly in the busy run to Christmas. They need to be protected from flu and helped to ensure they don’t pass on the virus to colleagues and the public,” she said.
“With hospital admissions for flu up by 55 per cent last week and many more falling ill, it is clear there is a tidal wave of the virus ripping through our communities.”
The warning comes as the NHS battles what health leaders have described as an unprecedented early-season flu surge. Official figures released last week show flu cases in hospital have jumped 55 per cent in a single week, reaching an average of around 2,660 patients a day – the highest level ever recorded for this time of year. Health officials have cautioned that numbers could rise further before peaking.
The pressure on health services has been compounded by a five-day strike by junior doctors in England over pay and working conditions, launched this week.
Usdaw said the situation underlines the importance of protecting frontline retail staff, particularly in food and convenience retail, to maintain community access to essential goods. “Grocery retail is an essential service that helps keep the nation fed and healthy,” Thomas said. “As was highlighted in the pandemic, retail workers are key workers and efforts should be made to protect them and help to keep staff in work.”
The union warned that a sharp rise in sickness absence across food retail could have knock-on effects for store operations and local communities at the busiest trading period of the year.