All eligible people urged to get their flu vaccine as soon as possible

PUBLIC Health England (PHE) Midlands is urging all eligible people in the West Midlands to get their free flu vaccine, as surveillance indicates uptake is still low among some of the most high-risk groups in the region.

Uptake has been slow among the region’s care home workers, raising concerns that some of the most vulnerable people in the region may be left without the essential support they need if carers leave themselves unprotected from flu, get ill and spread to other colleagues and perhaps even residents.

There is also a worryingly low number of pregnant women in the West Midlands who have so far failed to have their flu jab, putting themselves and their unborn babies at risk of complications.

Dr Ash Banerjee, PHE Screening and Immunisation Lead in the West Midlands, said:

“We know that care home workers can struggle to find the time to get their flu vaccination, but the low uptake across the West Midlands is of great concern, as this group has the responsibility for looking after some of the region’s most vulnerable people. We would urge all healthcare professionals to get their flu jab as soon as possible, to protect themselves, the people in their care, and reduce risk of pressures from understaffing due to increased infection rates.

“We are also concerned at the low uptake in pregnant women, as there is good evidence that women who get flu while carrying their baby have a higher chance of developing complications, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. One of the most common complications is bronchitis, a chest infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia. If a woman gets flu while pregnant, it could also cause the baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight; and could even lead to a stillbirth. That’s why we urge all pregnant women to get their jab as soon as possible.

“The flu vaccine is the best defence against flu – which can develop into a serious illness that requires hospitalisation, adding pressure on the NHS and social care when they will also be dealing with cases of COVID-19. That’s why this year it’s more important than ever for eligible people in the West Midlands to get the flu vaccine, as COVID-19 is circulating during the flu season.”

From 1 December, 50- to 64-years-olds became eligible for the free vaccine – a group which is also at higher risk from complications if catching COVID-19.

Nationally, three quarters (75%) of all people aged 65 and older in England have received a free flu vaccine so far this year – up from 72.4% at the end of the last flu season and on track to be the highest uptake on record.

Across the country, uptake is the highest it has ever been in 2 and 3-year-olds, at 47.6% and 49.4%. As part of this year’s expanded NHS flu vaccination programme, children in Year 7 have been offered the vaccine for the first time this year. Uptake in this year is higher than all other school groups, with more than a quarter (158,748) of Year 7 children vaccinated by the end of October. As well as protecting them from flu, vaccinating children – who are known to be ‘super spreaders’ of the flu – also prevents them from passing the virus on to family members and others at greater risk of serious complications and death.

National uptake in healthcare workers is also ahead of this time last year. By the end of October, over half (51.6%) of healthcare workers had already been vaccinated – over 100,000 more compared to the same period last year. England achieves some of the highest flu vaccine uptake rates in Europe for healthcare workers. Vaccination protects frontline staff – who are more likely to be exposed to flu at work – while also providing indirect protection to vulnerable patients.

This is a promising start to the season, and anyone who is eligible but has not yet been vaccinated is encouraged to take up the offer before flu starts circulating in the community – especially for pregnant women and those with long-term health conditions, where uptake is 32.2% and 41.2% so far.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, Head of Flu at PHE said:

“We have had an incredible start to the flu vaccination programme, with record uptake in 2- to 3-year-olds and rates in over-65s the highest since the 2005/06 season. With over 30 million doses available this season, more people than ever are being offered a free flu vaccine.

“There is still time to get vaccinated against flu before it starts circulating in the community. We are urging anyone who is eligible to take up the offer. By getting the jab, you can help protect yourself, your family and the NHS – it will help save lives.”