Early influenza wave could lead to ‘long and drawn out’ winter for NHS

Influenza cases increased in the week to 26 October from 6.1% up to 8.2% – largely driven by a spike among school-aged children – and is up from 2.9% this time last year. It follows the warning signs from the Asia-pacific, where Japan has already declared a influenza epidemic, with many schools needing to close.

This early increase has prompted concerns of influenza spreading into the wider population in the coming weeks and triggering a “long and drawn-out flu season”.

NHS teams are ramping up efforts on its autumn/winter influenza vaccination campaign to prevent further spreading of the virus, with over 12 million flu vaccines delivered so far this autumn. This includes more than 6.7 million influenza vaccines delivered to over 65s, 1.8 million to school-aged children and over 366,000 to two– and three-year-olds – thanks to NHS staff making it as easy as possible for those eligible to get vaccinated this year by improving access and delivering vaccines closer to home in the community. For the first time, those eligible for winter vaccines have been able to book since 1 September to allow more people to book their flu or COVID-19 vaccine appointments in advance.

All eligible adults should aim to have received their influenza vaccination by the end of November – with vaccines available for everyone aged 65 and over, under 65s in clinical risk groups, care home residents and carers, pregnant women, close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed and frontline health and social care workers as well as children.

Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: “This early rise of influenza in children is particularly concerning – especially given that influenza circulation in children normally precedes that in adults – so it’s vitally important those eligible come forward for their vaccine as soon as possible to avoid a long and drawn-out influenza season.”