USW helps NHS protect against flu

University of South Wales (USW) is one of the first Welsh universities to invest in onsite, flu vaccinations for undergraduate healthcare students, helping the NHS in its mission to keep flu levels down in communities and clinical settings.

The nursing, midwifery, and allied health professional students will be offered convenient vaccination slots, alongside their teaching timetable, at the University’s Glyntaff site.

During their studies, the healthcare students will spend half of their time on supervised placements across a wide range of healthcare settings, that include community, hospital, palliative care, nursing homes, and GP surgeries, developing key skills that will enhance their employability.  By being vaccinated against flu, they will be less likely to spread the flu virus to vulnerable patients, as well as reducing the chances of becoming unwell with the flu themselves.

USW has invested in the vaccination agreement with, local organisation, Caer Health, who will provide two nurses a day. They aim to vaccinate 160 students per day and up to 1500 in total.

Casey Lloyd, BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing student, said: “It has been convenient for me to have my vaccination on campus today. Otherwise, I would have had to try to get through to my GP surgery to book an appointment. Between lectures and placements, that would have been difficult to schedule. It is important for us to be vaccinated as we go into winter.”

Dr Ian Mathieson, USW’s Associate Dean of Partnerships and Development, said: ‘The success of Wales’ Covid vaccination programme has highlighted the effectiveness of vaccines. In addition to protecting people, they also protect our hospitals by reducing the number of preventable admissions. We see the provision of flu vaccines in this way as a means of contributing to the safety of our students, their patients, and our hospitals.”