Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the government’s efforts to increase flu vaccinations and has called for shop workers to receive free jabs. The union also calls on employers to ensure staff have time to be vaccinated.
Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary, says: “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 help ensure they don’t pass on the virus to colleagues and the public. With hospital admissions for flu up by 55% last week and many more falling ill, it is clear there is a tidal wave of the virus ripping through our communities.
“Grocery retail is an essential service that helps keep the nation fed and healthy. 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. Any large increase in sickness absence in the retail food industry could have a severe impact on our communities.”
