All these eligible for the flu vaccine are being urged to return ahead because the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) revealed information displaying a big enhance within the variety of recorded flu instances.
The most recent UKHSA information additionally reveals there was a rise in emergency division flu attendances and hospital admissions within the final week.
To date this yr, flu vaccine uptake in eligible teams is just like the final couple of years, though there’s a explicit want for pre-schoolers, pregnant girls and people within the well being and social care workforces to take up the provide.
From 4 to 10 December 2023, the UKHSA nationwide influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report confirmed that:
- there was a notable enhance in influenza positivity to five.6%, up from 2.4% within the earlier week, primarily based on information from Respiratory DataMart
- major care surveillance indicated an increase in influenza-like-illness (ILI) consultations to five.3 per 100,000, in comparison with 4.6 per 100,000 within the earlier week
- influenza hospitalisations elevated, together with an increase in emergency division attendances throughout the nation. There was additionally an uptick in intensive care unit (ICU) or excessive dependency unit (HDU) admissions, with 35 new admissions in week 49
- weekly influenza vaccine uptake for the 2023 to 2024 season confirmed larger charges for these aged 2 years, comparable charges for these aged 3 years and decrease charges for these aged 65 years and over, pregnant girls, and people beneath 65 years in medical threat teams in comparison with the equal week within the earlier season (2022 to 2023)
These aged 2 and three years are eligible for nasal spray flu vaccines, with mother and father and guardians additionally urged to e-book appointments to make sure the youthful age group is protected.
With each flu and COVID-19 instances each circulating this winter, it is usually very important all these eligible get each vaccines as quickly as doable.
As a result of enhance in ranges of flu circulating in the neighborhood, UKHSA has really useful that it’s now applicable for antiviral medicines to be prescribed in major care settings.
These eligible for antivirals if they’ve flu embody sufferers in medical at-risk teams in addition to any who’re liable to extreme sickness and problems from flu if not handled. This consists of folks in these teams who current with signs of flu and those that have been uncovered to flu-like diseases from somebody they dwell with, together with residents of care properties.
As has occurred in flu seasons earlier than the pandemic, following an UKHSA suggestion, the Chief Medical Officer along with the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer have issued an alert to the NHS notifying the healthcare system that antiviral medicines can now be prescribed and equipped for instances of group acquired influenza.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Director for Immunisation and Programmes at UKHSA, mentioned:
Flu ranges are on the rise, so get your vaccine now to just remember to are Winter Robust, and earlier than pharmacies and surgical procedures start to shut for the Christmas interval. Pregnant girls, their unborn infants and people in medical threat teams are at larger threat of complication from flu. Taking on each the flu and COVID-19 vaccines offers the very best safety for each pregnant girls and their child, lowering the chance of extreme problems, intensive care wants, stillbirth, and prematurity.
If you’re the father or mother of a kid aged 2 or 3 years, remember that also they are eligible for the flu vaccine and this may be booked by way of your GP – the nasal spray will assist forestall hospitalisations, cut back the unfold of flu in the neighborhood and keep away from you having to juggle a sick baby with work and different commitments.
The NHS nationwide reserving system is closed. However eligible individuals can nonetheless proceed to talk to their GP, or alternatively an area pharmacist about getting their vaccination.
Flu antivirals are efficient in serving to to maintain folks out of hospital and stopping the virus spreading to different extra weak family and members of the family. Now that we’re seeing flu growing it is vital that GPs contemplate the potential of flu in respiratory sufferers and using antivirals in keeping with nationwide steerage, notably if they’ve dominated out COVID-19.
You possibly can assist cut back the unfold of those infections by avoiding mixing with others the place doable when displaying indicators of a respiratory sickness like flu and COVID-19, notably those that are extra weak.”
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Thomas Waite mentioned:
The most recent information signifies the flu season could be very a lot underway and COVID-19 infections are growing.
Using antivirals in opposition to flu in major care will assist shield probably the most weak over the winter. If you’re eligible and haven’t managed to get vaccinated but, now’s the time.”
Well being Minister Maria Caulfield mentioned:
Authorizing using antivirals signifies that flu is reaching extra critical ranges so it’s important that we take care. I might encourage anybody eligible who’s but to return ahead for the vaccine to e-book an appointment and get protected as quickly as doable.
These further instruments will assist us relieve the stress on our NHS as they deal with the busy Christmas and New 12 months intervals and can present additional safety not only for you but in addition on your family members.”
The alert regarding flu antiviral medication has been issued to major care settings together with GPs and group pharmacies in England.
The Division of Well being and Social Care continues to work intently with the producers of antiviral medicines, used within the remedy of flu, to observe shares and be certain that there are enough provides of those medicines out there to satisfy UK demand.
