Flu jab vital this winter, as well as Covid vaccine

The public are encouraged to get their flu jab to maximise their protection against infection before the winter. Health officials worry because this is the first year that flu and Covid are both fully circulating at the same time.

Research shows that people infected with both viruses have more than double the chance of dying than those with just Covid.

Over 40 million people throughout the UK, 35 million of which are in England, will have the offer of a flu jab this year. This is the biggest flu vaccination campaign ever. And for the first time, all secondary school children up to 16 years old are included.

Importance of vaccination

Along with the extended flu campaign, some people will have the offer of a Covid booster jab this autumn and winter. It will go to those aged over 50 years old, and younger adults who have health conditions.

Head of the new UK Health Security Agency, Dr Jenny Harries, warns that people are likely to have a lower level of immunity to flu this winter. This is because social distancing and lockdowns at this time last year meant the virus did not circulate as much. She stresses how important it is for people to get vaccinated, as it is “the first winter where we will have seasonal flu and Covid co-circulating”.

Meanwhile, Professor Wendy Barclay, a virology specialist at Imperial College London, says it is harder to gauge which strains of flu to cover with this year’s vaccine. This is because last year had such a low number of cases. However, they have done their best to match this year’s updated vaccine to the strains they predict will circulate.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, says people “need to take this seriously” by getting the vaccines they are offered. We need to do everything we can to “defend ourselves” in the best possible way. He emphasises the seriousness of both viruses. They can both easily spread, cause hospitalisations, and become fatal.

The battle with flu

On average, around 11,000 people die every winter in England as a result of flu. During the winter of 2017-18, the last year with bad flu, the total more than doubled that. At its peak, there were over 300 deaths per day.

During winter months, flu and other seasonal viruses often lead to over 1,000 daily hospital admissions. This is higher than the current levels for Covid.

Concern is growing that we may see very high levels of respiratory illness this winter, which will cause severe strain on the NHS. According to a report from the Academy of Medical Sciences, deaths could reach up to 60,000.

The leading cause of hospitalisations for children under 5 years old is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This is circulating at much higher levels than usual already.

The government are launching a new advertising campaign to relay the winter warning message. It features television medics Dr Dawn Harper, Dr Amir Khan and Dr Karan Ranj. They hope the adverts will encourage people who are eligible for both the flu and Covid booster jabs to come forward.

Who is eligible for a winter vaccine?

The following are among the groups of people eligible for the vaccinations:

• Those aged over 50 (Covid booster and flu jab)
• Younger people with health conditions (Covid booster and flu jab)
• People working in health and care (Covid booster and flu jab)
• Women who are pregnant (flu jab)
• Children aged between 2 and 16 years (flu jab)

GP surgeries will make contact with their patients who are eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine. Alternatively, eligible patients can visit a pharmacy to book themselves an appointment.

However, people qualifying for the coronavirus booster should wait until they are contacted.

Anyone not eligible for a free flu jab can pay for one at a pharmacy, for a typical price of around £15.

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