IF there's one thing a Health Secretary should know about, it's the law and government policy on health.
With that in mind, imagine the Jouker's surprise when he learned that Matt Hancock, the United Kingdom's highest authority on health policy, doesn't even know who is qualified to give a flu jab.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Hancock said: "We're changing the law so that more people can administer the [flu] jab because I want pharmacists to be administering them, and nurses and technicians as well as GPs."
A nurse has done my flu jab for years. Except for one year when it was a pharmacist. What is he on? https://t.co/eJubFgQXGd
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) August 28, 2020
Considering that Hancock wants pharmacists and nurses to administer flu jabs, the Jouker has some fantastic news for him: they already can.
In fact, they've both been doing it for years.
The law Hancock's said he'll change has allowed pharmacists to administer flu jabs since 2017, according to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, and nurses have been doing it for decades now.
READ MORE: Tories accused of dismantling of Public Health England as ‘a distraction’
Fortunately, not everyone is as ill-informed on matters of health as the Health Secretary.
The Royal College of Nurses' General Nursing Forum was among those to set the Tory minister straight, writing: "Year in, year out for decades #Nurses in General Practice have delivered the bulk of the flu vaccinations to the population of the UK.
"It is therefore concerning that @MattHancock is apparently unaware that #Nursing has delivered the #flucampaign for so long."
They added: "It seems our Health Secretary is very poorly advised on the scope & autonomy of nursing."
Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell wrote: "A nurse has done my flu jab for years. Except for one year when it was a pharmacist. What is he on?"
Others could only put their head in the hands:
I'm a phlebotomist and I've been giving flu jabs for the past 5 yrs. I do on average 700 per flu season (I counted one year😂) Matt Hancock hasn't got a clue 😳
— Jojo (@jojo1406) August 28, 2020
I wonder if Matt Hancock is so clueless about his brief that he didn't know pharmacists give flu shots.
— Nigel Whitfield (@nigelwUK) August 28, 2020
Or if he hopes enough other people are so clueless they'll actually think he's done something useful for once?
Matt Hancock stating nurses will now give flu vaccines - his ignorance of what has been happening for years.
— lorraine burgess (@lorraineburges2) August 28, 2020
Never mind the nurse, you've been able to get the flu jab at Boots for years.
— Craig Barrack (@Craig_Barrack) August 28, 2020
So the pharmacists have been renegades too???
Hancock might also change the law so that they can sell shampoo and Ibuprofen?
So, Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast that "we're changing the law" because he wants pharmacists and nurses to be administering flu jabs.
— Amanda -Wash Your Hands- Kowbel (@manda1405) August 28, 2020
Not sure what I’ve been doing at work for the last few years then.
I give you...our health secretary, ladies and gentleman. 🤦🏻♀️
Oddly, it seems that the Tory MP was actually quite proud of the interview he'd given the BBC, as he tweeted a segment of it himself.
If you are over 65, get the jab.
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) August 27, 2020
If you have underlying health conditions that mean you get a free flu jab, get the jab.
If you are a health worker, you get it for free & you must get the jab.
It is so important we control flu, especially this year of all years.@BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/COt72WDt2d
We can only assume he'd been told of his blunder by that point...
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