Co-operative launches Europe's largest private flu jab scheme

Over 11,000 employees at the Co-operative Banking Group are set to receive a free flu jab in Europe's largest ever private sector flu vaccination programme.

Absenteeism from colds and flu costs UK businesses £1.1bn each year, according to Co-operative estimates.

The staff will be offered the jab either at a workplace clinic or via 400 of The Co-operative Pharmacy's branches, which are also offering the vaccination to consumers and other businesses for £11 - as well as an on-site vaccination service to businesses with more than 100 employees.

The Co-operative estimates it will save at least £1 million a year if just 75 per cent of its 110,000-strong workforce takes up the offer. At the same time, as a responsible employer, it is taking the move in the interests of staff welfare.

It has been argued that a swine flu outbreak and the impact of workers being unable to go to work because of illness could affect overall UK GDP (gross domestic product) by around three per cent.

Peter Marks, Group Chief Executive of The Co-operative Group, said: "The UKeconomy requires help to boost growth and output and our initiative is the kind of shot in the arm it needs.

"Reducing the costs and impact on business efficiency from workplace absenteeism is particularly important in these difficult economic times. Our leading approach to offer flu vaccinations to our staff makes business sense while improving the welfare of our employees."

The inoculation, supplied by Novartis Vaccines, contains the H1N1 (swine flu) strain in line with World Health Organisation recommendations and has been ordered from stocks outside those allocated for the NHS.