A shocking new study has revealed that almost 60% of staff working in residential homes in Donegal have never had a flu vaccine. 
The study was carried out by Dr Louise Doherty, a Donegal based consultant in public health medicine.
In the article that appeared in today’s Irish Times the details of the evidence carried out by Dr Doherty was laid bare.
National attention focused on a care home in Fahan, Ballyshannon last year when several residents died because of an outbreak of flu in the facility.
In the study carried out by Dr Doherty she found that only 9% of the staff there had the flu vaccine.
Although she did stress that the source of that outbreak which affected 35 out of 46 residents had never been identified.
One of the most alarming findings of the research was that 57 per cent of the 510 staff surveyed said they never had a flu vaccine.
Dr Doherty, presented her findings to a recent research conference at Sligo General Hospital, said research in the UK found that institutions with the highest level of immunisation showed reduced rates of flu-like illness, hospitalisation and death in the elderly.
Dr Doherty said healthcare workers could put vulnerable residents at risk without even knowing that they have the flu.
She told the Irish times, “It could take 24 hours before they feel wiped out but they might be infectious at work.
The Department of Public Health Medicine, HSE North West, has appointed 60 “flu champions” among staff in 50 community health services, including nursing homes, in Co Donegal in a bid to increase uptake of the vaccine.
Staff who don’t wish to be vaccinated are being invited to “opt out” by signing a form saying they have read the information and are making an informed decision not to be vaccinated.