Usdaw has called for retail workers to be offered free vaccinations as the UK sees a rise in flu cases.

The retail trade union said it welcomed the government's efforts to provide flu jabs for over 17 million people, adding that shop workers should be included in this vaccination programme.

Groups of people currently eligible to receive a free flue vaccination include those with long-term health conditions, people who act as the main career for an older or disabled person, and healthcare workers.

Usdaw also called on employers should ensure that staff have the time available to
be vaccinated.

Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary, said that retail staff deal with “hundreds if not thousands” of shoppers every day in the run up to Christmas, adding that they need to be protected from flu so that they don’t pass on the virus to
colleagues or the public.

“With hospital admissions for flu up by 55 per cent last week and many more falling ill, it is clear there is a tidal wave of the virus ripping through our communities,” she continued. “As was highlighted in the pandemic, retail workers are key workers and efforts should be made to protect them and help to keep staff in work.

“Any large increase in sickness absence in the retail food industry could have a severe impact on our communities.”

Usdaw, which currently has around 360,00 members, is the UK’s fifth biggest union.

Yesterday, the NHS urged eligible patients to come forward to receive their vaccine to protect themselves over the festive period.

The NHS said that through measures such as community pop-up clinics, it delivered 451,275 flu vaccines in the first week of December, an increase of 28,000 compared to the same time period in 2024.

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