All those eligible for the flu vaccine have been urged to come back forward as cases rise to levels not seen since before the pandemic.

To date this yr, flu vaccine uptake in eligible groups is comparable to the last couple of years, although there’s a selected need for pre-schoolers, pregnant women and people within the health and social care workforces to take up the offer.

Latest UKHSA data shows there have been jumps in emergency department flu attendances and hospital admissions within the last week. The intensive care admission rate is now higher for flu than for Covid.

Within the week 14 to twenty November 2022:

• The hospital admission rate for flu increased to 24 per million population, up from 15 per million the previous week. The very best rates were within the under 5s followed by the 75 years plus group. The Covid rate was 44 per million population.
• The intensive care and high dependency take care of influenza increased to 21 per 10 million population in comparison with 13 per 10 million population within the previous week. The very best rates were within the under 5s followed by the 65 years plus group. The Covid rate was 17 per 10 million population.

Those aged 2 and three years old are eligible for nasal spray flu vaccines, with parents and guardians also urged to book appointments to make sure the younger age group is protected.

With each flu and Covid cases each circulating this winter, it’s also vital all those eligible get each vaccines as soon as possible.

Resulting from the rise in levels of flu circulating in the neighborhood, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has really helpful that it’s now appropriate for antiviral medicines to be prescribed in primary care settings.

Those eligible for antivirals in the event that they have flu include patients in clinical at-risk groups in addition to any who’re liable to severe illness and complications from flu if not treated. This includes people in those groups who present with symptoms of flu and people who have been exposed to flu-like illnesses from someone they live with, including residents of care homes.

As has happened in flu seasons before 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 supplied for cases of community acquired influenza.

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said:

Flu and Covid are each circulating. We’re currently seeing higher rates of flu at the moment of yr than usual.

It will be important those eligible have their flu jab as soon as they will. Vaccines are one of the best defence against these viruses. Essentially the most effective approach is to get vaccinated before it’s circulating at very high rates.

As flu cases have risen and so as to protect probably the most vulnerable – in step with pre-COVID flu seasons antiviral medicines can now be prescribed in primary care settings similar to GPs and pharmacies to those eligible who’re most in danger to the complications of flu.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:

Flu is a serious virus and, while we’ve not seen the variety of cases we’re used to over the past couple of years, it’s beginning to flow into at high levels this season.

Thankfully we’ve got the tools to guard those most in danger to flu. Due to our unbelievable vaccination campaign, greater than 17 million flu jabs have been given in England this season already.

For all those eligible who haven’t yet come forward for his or her free winter vaccines for flu and Covid, please don’t delay in coming forward on your jab. It couldn’t be easier.”

In England, the primary weekly winter update shows there have been a mean of 344 patients a day with flu in hospital last week, greater than ten times the number seen at first of December last yr.

In October, a recent country-wide marketing campaign urging thousands and thousands of eligible people to get their flu and Covid booster vaccines to top up their immunity was launched.

Constructing on the success of the 2021/22 Covid vaccination campaign, the campaign stressed that the protection provided by vaccines wanes over time, so everyone eligible should boost their immunity by getting each vaccines ahead of a difficult winter.

Dr Mary Ramsay, Director for Immunisation & Programmes at UKHSA:

Our surveillance shows recent increases in laboratory and clinical influenza indicators across England, particularly NHS emergency department attendances, hospitalisations and intensive care. Alongside older adults, flu rates are rapidly rising in younger children. Vaccination stays critical and I urge everyone eligible to take up the offer.

Flu antivirals are effective in helping to maintain people out of hospital and stopping the virus spreading to other more vulnerable household and relations. Now that we’re seeing flu increasing it is vital that GPs consider the potential for flu in respiratory patients and using antivirals in step with national guidance, particularly in the event that they have ruled out COVID-19.”

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said:

The primary weekly data this yr shows that flu is already with us as we enter what could possibly be probably the most difficult winter in NHS history, with a whole bunch of beds a day already occupied with patients with flu.

Flu might be extremely serious for a lot of people, so pharmacies and GPs will now find a way to prescribe antivirals to those most liable to its complications to assist people avoid the necessity for hospital care.

But one of the best ways people who find themselves eligible can protect themselves is by getting vaccinated at once – there are literally thousands of sites across the country offering flu and covid jabs so please book in today should you have not already.”

The alert concerning flu antiviral medicine has been issued to primary care settings including GPs and community pharmacies in England.

The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with the manufacturers of antiviral medicines, utilized in the treatment of flu, to observe stocks and be sure that there are adequate supplies of those medicines available to fulfill UK demand.

The prescription and provide of antivirals in primary care settings is in step with NICE guidance.

Background

• Antiviral medicines don’t work like a vaccine which helps to stop you from getting the flu, but they will reduce the severity of the disease should you are treated early.

• Antiviral medicines could also be prescribed at any time within the secondary care setting for patients with suspected seasonal influenza infection. In primary care, once it has been confirmed that flu is circulating in the neighborhood, antiviral medicines could also be prescribed for patients in “clinical at-risk groups” in addition to any who’re liable to severe illness and/or complications from flu if not treated.

• This alert is issued based on advice from UKHSA, which monitors the extent of flu circulating in the neighborhood based on a spread of various indicators. This includes the variety of positive tests for flu, the variety of acute respiratory outbreaks reported, hospital admissions, and the variety of GP consultations for flu like illness.

• The alert might be found here: https://www.cas.mhra.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAlert.aspx?AlertID=103217

• Link to latest weekly UKHSA national flu and Covid surveillance report might be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-published