STAFF at Sirona care & health are helping children in developing countries with this year’s flu vaccine campaign.

The not-for-profit social enterprise, which provides healthcare in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, is supporting UNICEF’s Get a Jab: Give a Jab initiative so for every flu vaccine given to a member of staff, three Tetanus, Measles and Polio jabs are given to UNICEF for children in need.

The idea to link in with UNICEF was the brainchild of Debra Nicholson, Sirona’s infection prevention and control nurse specialist, and she secured funding from Sirona’s charitable arm, The Sirona Foundation.

Debra said: “The response from staff has been fantastic and we are close to donating 2000 vaccines to UNICEF as a result.

“We offer all staff the flu vaccine to make sure we are doing all we can to keep them, their families and their colleagues safe.

“It is so important because having flu, even for someone who is otherwise fit and healthy is a horrible experience; if you get ‘flu it is highly likely that you will pass it on to others and for those caring for others, protecting yourself means protecting them too.

“Flu activity in the South West is currently low but is expected to rise.

“This year’s vaccine offers good protection because there are four strains included for those aged under 65 and for those who are over 65, it also includes an immune boosting agent.