BBC News reports that the majority of medical staff in London remain unprotected against the swine flu virus.

A freedom of information request to NHS London has revealed that only one in three nurses in London have been vaccinated against swine flu. This figure includes all nursing staff in the health authority, including those in nurse manager jobs and their subordinates.

Whilst NHS London has reportedly described vaccine take-up as 'encouraging' due to more than 60,000 members of staff taking the jab, BBC London's FOI request reveals that the rate of take-up has levelled off. In mid-December, a total of 33% of all frontline staff had been vaccinated. By the 18th of January this had only risen by 7%. This figure includes dentists, paramedics and so forth but not NHS staff who have no contact with patients. For example senior nurse managers who work in resources or payroll departments are not included.

Health workers were supposed to be vaccinated ahead of any other group in the UK, due to their increased contact with those infected. Although swine flu is typically mild among most people it can be extremely contagious. Any infected frontline worker with negligible symptoms could still pass the illness on to a more vulnerable patient.

In December, NHS London's head of pandemic flu, Dr Chloe Sellwood said "Swine flu is a very mild illness for most people but we know that it can be severe in a small minority of patients. The vaccine is our best defence against the virus and that is why we are encouraging as many people as possible to take it".

The BBC reports that 38% of GP's in London and 45% of other doctors have currently been vaccinated. People in nurse manager jobs could change the poor figure for nurse vaccinations by encouraging their staff to ensure they receive the jab.