DUDLEY’S mental health trust has donated more than 7,000 tetanus vaccines to Unicef to help save the lives of thousands of children around the world.

During the winter, Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust pledged to donate 10 lifesaving tetanus vaccinations for every single flu vaccine given to staff who work there.

Staff employed by the local mental health trust were encouraged to get their flu jab to not only protect themselves and their patients from flu, but also help save the lives of children all around the world who will benefit from receiving essential tetanus vaccinations.

As a result of this initiative, the trust saw more than 70 per cent of frontline healthcare staff get their flu jab this year, with the results enabling the trust to donate enough funds to provide life-saving vaccines for over 7,000 children in deprived countries.

Mark Axcell, chief executive officer of the trust, said: “Increasing the number of healthcare workers vaccinated against influenza has been shown to reduce flu-related deaths by up to 40 per cent.

“It essential that we encourage as many staff as possible to get the flu jab each year to help prevent the spread of flu to our patients and those that are most at risk and vulnerable.

“By supporting the Unicef initiative, our staff know that getting the flu jab this year has not only helped protect themselves and the people around them but has potentially saved the lives of many young children around the world who do not have access to healthcare services.”