Give student nurses a free jab

I’m right behind young student nurse Charlotte Ritson who has launched a petition asking the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland to give a free flu jab to nurses who are still working towards their qualification. It’s no less than they all deserve. Flu vaccination is provided to doctors and fully qualified nurses, so why is it that student nurses have to fork out for the inoculation from their own pockets? Currently health boards do not consider student nurses on placement as employees but the same student nurses have daily contact with patients and run the risk of both contracting seasonal flu and/or passing on the virus to vulnerable patients. You can add your support to Charlotte’s petition by searching ‘Charlotte Ritson’ on www.change.org. Anyone with underlying medical conditions, pregnant, aged 65 or over, carers and front line health and social care workers are all entitled to the free vaccination so get it now.