Uk Facing Long, Tough Flu Season, Nhs Chiefs Warn

The UK is facing a long, drawn-out flu season, nan leader of nan NHS successful England is warning.

Sir Jim Mackey said location is "no doubt" this wintertime will beryllium 1 of nan toughest nan wellness work has faced.

It comes arsenic flu rates person started climbing early this year, which is causing interest because nan wintertime vaccination run has only conscionable sewage nether measurement and location are tons of susceptible group yet to get protected.

NHS England is issuing a "flu jab SOS", urging those eligible for nan free vaccine to travel guardant quickly for it.

More than 13 cardinal group person been vaccinated truthful acold this year, but that is still much than 5 cardinal beneath nan number who were jabbed past winter.

Sir Jim said: "There's nary uncertainty this wintertime will beryllium 1 of nan toughest our unit person ever faced.

"Since stepping into this role, nan thought of a long, drawn-out flu play has kept maine awake astatine night. And, unfortunately, it looks for illustration that fearfulness is becoming reality.

"Australia has conscionable endured its worst flu play connected grounds — complete 410,000 cases — and each nan signs propose nan NHS will look akin challenges successful nan months ahead. From December done to March, our hospitals will beryllium astatine capacity."

People aged 65 and over, pregnant women and those pinch definite semipermanent wellness conditions tin get a free flu jab connected nan NHS. Appointments tin beryllium booked online, by phoning 119 aliases astatine section pharmacies and GPs.

Children aged 2 to 16 tin besides get vaccinated pinch a nasal spray. That's chiefly to thief extremity flu spreading.

Other group tin bargain a flu vaccine from precocious thoroughfare chemist shops and immoderate supermarket pharmacies.

Two of nan worst wintertime flu seasons of nan past decade person been seen successful nan past 3 years, thing partially attributed to nan bounce-back of nan microorganism aft Covid restrictions were lifted mixed pinch immunity being low.

Last year, astir 8,000 group died from flu, and successful nan 2022-23 flu play location were astir 16,000 deaths.

Flu rates are presently 3 times higher than normal for this clip of year, pinch nan highest rates seen successful children and young people. But wellness officials person warned nan microorganism will commencement spreading to older groups successful nan coming weeks.

Duncan Burton, main nursing serviceman for England, said: "With conscionable weeks near to guarantee champion protection against nan worst of nan flu season, we are issuing an urgent SOS to nan eligible group who person yet to get jabbed this year.

"It is captious that nan nationalist usage nan disposable appointments we person moving adjacent week to stamp retired this early activity of flu cases and thief shield themselves up of winter.

"The vaccine is proven to beryllium safe and thief forestall those astatine consequence from getting earnestly sick and moreover hospitalised from flu."