The past two winters saw at least 18,000 flu-related deaths, according to UKHSA data, ‘despite last winter being a relatively mild flu season’. By comparison, 19,500 deaths were associated with Covid in the same period.
Meanwhile, last winter saw a drop in flu vaccine uptake rates across all eligibility groups in England, compared to the previous year.
Although uptake among older people remained high, only 41% of those with long-term health conditions, 44% of two- and three-year-olds, and just one in three pregnant women received their flu jab.
In order to help those most at risk and ease pressure on this NHS this winter, UKHSA, alongside the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England, are launching their Get Winter Strong campaign.
The campaign will urge eligible people to get their flu and Covid vaccinations ahead of winter, and will encourage pregnant women to get their RSV and whooping cough jabs for the first time.
UKHSA deputy director of immunisation Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam said:
‘As winter approaches we see many dangerous viruses circulating in our communities including flu […] If you’re pregnant or have certain long-term health conditions, you are at greater risk of getting seriously ill. Older people and young infants with flu are also much more likely to get hospitalised.’
Keep an eye out for a Back to basics feature on flu in the next issue of Community Practitioner.
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