NHS England have axed free flu jabs for dentists and their teams this year in a move slammed by the profession.
Authorities confirm that the complimentary flu vaccine offer for primary care staff will not be extended for 2022/23.
This comes after chief dental officer for England, Sara Hurley encouraged all dentists to take up the offer last September.
The British Dental Association (BDA) slammed the decision, pointing out that both Covid and flu will now be circulating together.
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British Dental Association chair, Eddie Crouch said: ‘For a fleeting moment, it seemed like dentists were finally being treated as part of the NHS family. Sadly the plan to “live with Covid” means withdrawing protection for our teams and our patients in the years ahead.
‘We were told inclusion in this programme was important for both individual and public health. Absolutely nothing has changed in that regard.
‘In a bid to save pennies officials are sending a dreadful message to tens of thousands of frontline healthcare workers, and also the millions of patients they treat.’
This comes as the Department of Health and Social Care confirm that mandatory Covid jabs for health workers will be scrapped from 15 March.
The decision followed a public consultation where nine in 10 supported the removal of the legal requirement.
However Health Secretary Sajid Javid emphasised there was still a ‘professional responsibility’ for health workers to get vaccinated.
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