Nurses said they were “baffled” by the claims.
Nurses have expressed their confusion after the health secretary appears to have claimed to have “changed the law” allowing them to administer flu vaccinations.
Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast viewers the government had changed the law enabling nurses and other healthcare professionals to undertake flu vaccination.
He said; “In fact, we have changed the law so that more people can administer the jab. We want pharmacists, nurses, and GPs to be able to administer the jab.”
Nurses took to social media to express their confusion at Mr. Hancock’s comments, with one saying they were “baffled” as they had been doing this “for decades”.
Ellen Nicholson, a registered nurse and Chair of the Royal College of Nursing’s General Practice Forum, said she was “surprised” by his claims.
She told NursingNotes; “Flu vaccination is something that general practice nurses, school nurses, and nurses within the community have been managing and running for decades.
An increased emphasis.
In July, Ministers announce an expansion of the flu vaccination program with several new groups being offered the vaccine including those shielding, school children up to Year 7, patients aged over 65, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions including at-risk under 2s.
“This year there is an increased emphasis on the influenza campaign as we are currently within a pandemic.
“We are very keen to vaccinate those ‘at-risk’ groups alongside all those that would normally be offered the vaccine,” she said.
Adding that while clinics will be “mostly by appointment only” and “run in a variety of locations this year with larger practices using places like village halls so that social distancing measures are adequately enforced.
“Children who are between 2 and 3 will be seen in the surgery by their general practice nurse. Children over the age of 4 up to 11 will be vaccinated in schools via the schools immunisations team.