PREGNANT women, young children and those with chronic health conditions are being urged to get the flu vaccine and protect themselves this winter.
The comes as part of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) – along with the Department for Health and Social Care DHSC and NHS England – latest campaign reminds those at risk to get ‘winter strong’ with their vaccinations to fight off the onslaught of seasonal viruses.
According to the agency flu vaccination figures for vulnerable people in the West Midlands drop by just over six per cent in the last year and only 41 per cent of people under 65 who are at risk and eligible to have the vaccine had the jab last year, compared to 47.5 per cent the year before.
To help reduce the impact of winter viruses on those most at risk, as well as ease NHS winter pressures, the UKHSA – with Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England – is set to launch a scaled-up Get Winter Strong campaign on the 7 October.
The campaign will urge those eligible to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccination when invited, ahead of winter, targeting those at greatest risk and for the first time will encourage pregnant women to also get their RSV and whooping cough vaccination.
Last year saw a sudden increase in the number of people in England having to be hospitalised, due to a flu peak in the week leading up to Christmas and then again at the end of January.
Pregnant women and older people aged 75-79 are also eligible for a RSV vaccination for the first time this year, with the maternal vaccine providing strong protection for newborns in their first few months, when they are most at risk of severe illness from RSV.
Paul Fisher, UKHSA West Midlands consultant in Health Protection said: “Flu is a nasty infection and tragically thousands of people lose their lives to the disease every year. It is really worrying therefore to see some of our vaccination rates dropping.
“I am particularly concerned to see that a large percentage of the most vulnerable people in the West Midlands did not have the vaccine last year.
“If you are pregnant or if you have certain long-term health conditions, you are at greater risk of getting seriously ill. Pregnant women have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. Older people and young infants with flu are much more likely to get hospitalised.
“The flu vaccine can prevent you getting flu or becoming seriously ill with flu. If you have existing health conditions and are eligible, do think carefully about having the vaccine and join the – it could be a life saver.”
Millions of eligible people in England can now book their flu and COVID-19 vaccines through the NHS, with appointments starting from October 3.
For the RSV jab, pregnant women and older adults should speak to their maternity service or GP practice to arrange, as the NHS rolls out additional protection for those most at risk ahead of winter.
Every year the World Health Organization recommends which strains should be included in the flu vaccine, with the UKHSA contributing to this work.
Vaccines are then developed to help fight off the types of flu viruses expected to be circulating in the coming season.
As the viruses can change every year, and protection from the vaccine reduces over time, it is important those eligible get a vaccine every year.
The Get Winter Strong campaign will run for 10 weeks and will appear on broadcast TV, on demand and community TV, as well as radio channels, outdoor poster sites across England and on social media channels.
