Get vaccinated and protect yourselves this autumn urges UK health body

People in London are being urged to take up an offer of vaccination against Covid, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this autumn as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) launches its “Get Winter Strong” campaign.

The campaign coincides with another Covid wave that is well underway across England with cases and people admitted to hospital rising sharply, according to the latest data.

UKHSA says over the past two winters at least 18,000 deaths nationally were associated with flu, and an estimated 19,500 deaths associated with Covid.

“Of real concern is the drop in the flu vaccine uptake rates last winter across all eligibility groups in England compared with the previous year, where we saw a sudden increase in the number of people having to be hospitalised, due to a flu peak in the week leading up to Christmas and then again at the end of January,” states UKHSA.

The London region has the lowest rate of vaccination uptake in England, with only 66 percent of 65-year-olds and 37 percent of two-and-three-year-olds receiving the flu vaccine.

The campaign this autumn will urge those eligible to get their flu and Covid vaccination when invited, ahead of winter, targeting those at greatest risk including pregnant women who will be encouraged to get their RSV vaccine for the first time, as well as the whooping cough vaccination.

“So if you or your child are offered the flu, Covid-19 or RSV vaccines, don’t delay in getting them,” says Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA deputy director of immunisation.

While many viruses such as flu follow a seasonal pattern with more infections occurring in the colder months, Covid has infection waves throughout the year.

“Current trends in Covid-19 epidemiology indicate that Covid-19 has not yet settled into a stable pattern of clear seasonality,” stated the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in February.

“Infection with SARS-CoV-2 continues to occur throughout the year, with winter being the period of greatest threat from Covid-19 — both in relation to the risk of infection and the pressures on health systems, including the NHS,” according to the JCVI.

Commenting on the current rate of Covid infections in England, Christina Pagel, professor of Operational Research in Health Care at University College London, says:

“Another Covid wave has hit England, with recorded hospital admissions with Covid [increasing] sharply over the last two weeks,” in an analysis of the latest data on infections.

“While there has been lots written about the new subvariant XEC, it’s not nearly prevalent enough (yet) in England to be behind this wave. Instead, I think this is being driven by return to education and work combined with a cold and wet September,” she says.

“This is now our fourth or fifth wave this year depending on how you count — and they are coming quickly enough that the troughs never reach the lows we saw in 2023. It’s enough to keep the risk of coming away from big events with Covid quite high (e.g., current Fresher’s week or party conferences), enough to disrupt people’s jobs and lives, and enough to keep too high a number of people developing new Long Covid,” she says.

Despite the current inquiry into the deaths from the early stages of the Covid pandemic which has highlighted the failings in prevention of disease, Pagel says the responsible authorities are still failing the public.

“We seem stuck in a phase of denial about Covid — we don’t want to remember. We don’t want to think about it. People justify this deliberate forgetting by minimising what happened, what Covid is now (still here!), and what could happen in the future with new diseases.

“Despite all the evidence on clean indoor air, there has been no push to improve the air quality of our buildings, private or public. This is particularly egregious in settings where clinically vulnerable people have no choice but to be: hospitals, pharmacies and care homes,” she says.

Pagel highlights the fact that evidence-based simple measures — such as wearing a face mask, and staying at home when ill — to prevent the spread of Covid are still being ignored.

“We know that good quality masks work (when worn!), and we should be normalising their wearing within hospitals and health care settings.

“Despite knowing that forcing people to go to work when sick is bad for their health and risks the health of others, there has been no push to improve statutory sick pay in the UK or encourage people (including children) to stay home when sick. The consequences of this shortsightedness will become even clearer when the next airborne pandemic hits us,” she says.

Campaigners seeking to prevent the spread of Covid especially to those who have weak immune systems have warned people to take precautions when visiting hospitals and GP surgeries.

Those who have a weakened immune system and a reduced ability to fight infections due to chronic illness such as Aids, cancer, diabetes, and severe asthma; or from receiving treatments for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and stem cell or organ transplants are particularly vulnerable.

“Because the NHS has not improved the ventilation in its buildings, hospitals and GP practices are extremely dangerous places to catch Covid,” says Buckinghamshire Disability Service.

“NHS staff are now required to work even if they have Covid and there are no Covid precautions in place at most NHS buildings. Do avoid hospitals and GP practices unless your visit is essential and wear a tight-fitted filter mask (FFP2 or FFP3) or respirator all the time if you have to go there.”

However, even relatively healthy people are at risk from acquiring Long Covid especially if they are repeatedly infected with the virus. The World Health Organisation still regards Covid as “a major threat” to public health.

For more information on winter vaccinations and how to book visit: nhs.uk/wintervaccinations