It comes as latest figures show increased flu activity, particularly among children
A leading GP has warned of “some quite worrying patterns” as Northern Ireland enters flu season and experiences an early increase in levels.
It comes as UK health experts fear thousands of people could die from flu this winter after figures suggested the number of flu deaths more than doubled last year.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates show that deaths from flu in England stood at 7,757 last winter compared to 3,555 the year before. Child deaths involving flu also increased from 34 to 53.
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Last year 862 children and young people, and 3,158 people aged 18 and over, were hospitalised with influenza in Northern Ireland. Of those 2,922 were an emergency hospital admission.
The UK is braced for a spate of flu deaths this winter, with NHS leaders issuing a “flu jab SOS” urging people to get protected. It follows the biggest flu season in Australia’s history, which is often seen as an accurate predictor of what the UK can expect.
East Belfast GP Dr Alan Stout, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland Council, told Belfast Live: “We’re entering flu season and we actually have some quite worrying patterns with flu including an increase in numbers in England and the south of England in particular, where they’ve seen hospital pressures associated with flu cases.
“Our actual vaccine tries to match the strain that was in Australia last year because it’s likely to be the flu strain that circulates here. Australia itself had quite a bad winter last year so that just raises alarm bells. It’s not saying that we’re destined to get this nasty outbreak but there’s certainly just a couple of signals that suggest it might not be as good as we hope.”
This week’s latest respiratory report from the Public Health Agency (PHA) continues to show an increase in influenza activity across surveillance indicators, particularly among children. This increase is earlier than previous flu seasons.
And it has prompted health officials to urge people who haven’t yet taken up the offer to get vaccinated that now is the time to do so before levels increase further.
Flu vaccines are available for everyone aged 65 and over, under-65s in clinical risk groups, pregnant women, care home residents and carers, close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed, frontline social care workers, and health and social care staff as well as children.
It usually takes about two weeks for a vaccine to become effective, so if eligible, you’re advised to take up the offer without delay.
But Dr Stout also sounded an alarm around vaccine hesitancy: “We see vaccine hesitancy around all vaccines to be honest and flu would be the same. We’ve seen a drop off in numbers. It’s not a dramatic drop off but it’s enough that it increases both an individual’s and the population’s risk
“The message that we give every year is if you’re eligible for it, if you’re called for it, please go and get your flu vaccine.
“We always have concerns going into the winter and that’s exactly why we have the flu vaccine programme to try and give as much protection as possible to people, to keep people well and obviously prevent deaths.
“It’s a real illness and it really does affect people and particularly those more vulnerable, such as the elderly and people with other illnesses.
“Certainly at the moment in general practice, which is my field, we have huge numbers of coughs, splutters and respiratory illness, which could be flu, Covid-19 or of course, it could be RSV. The other big implication is staff then being off as well, which just puts more pressure on the health service too.
“My message on vaccination is that the vaccine is there, it’s safe and effective, it works and protects people. It keeps the health service working and people out of GP surgeries, hospital EDs and hospital beds. It’s so important when we have safe and effective ways of preventing serious illness that you take an offer up if it is there.”
Rachel Spiers, Immunisation and Vaccination Programme Manager at the PHA, added: “Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and others and we’re pleased that over 300,000 people have already come forward to take up the offer of the seasonal influenza vaccine.
“However, this year we are seeing activity earlier than has been the case over the past few years, and given that it usually takes about two weeks for a vaccine to become fully effective, we are encouraging eligible people to take up the offer without delay.
“We are also seeing a particular increase among children. Trust school nursing teams are currently delivering the flu vaccination programme to primary and secondary school children (up to year 12) and this is progressing well. For those schools still to be covered, I urge parents to check school bags for flu vaccine consent forms, and sign and return them before the school nurses visit their child’s school to help maximise uptake.
“So far this season, 20.5% of pre-school children have received a vaccine via their GP practice, so if you have not already heard from your GP practice, contact them to find out what their vaccination arrangements are.
“Flu can develop into serious illness and result in hospitalisation, even for some otherwise healthy children. Last year 862 children and young people had a hospital admission with influenza in Northern Ireland. We must not underestimate the seriousness of seasonal flu.
“Vaccines are the best protection we have against these viruses so it’s important that all those who are eligible get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“We should also take common sense steps to reduce the spread of flu and other similar illnesses by exercising good respiratory and hand hygiene and staying away from others if we have symptoms.”
This year the flu vaccine is being offered to:
- all adults aged 65 years and over;
- people aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book influenza chapter (Green Book);
- pregnant women;
- residents and staff in a care home for older adults;
- all health and social care workers;
- all preschool children aged two to four years on 1 September 2025;
- all primary and secondary school children (up to and including year 12);
- carers;
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals.
Further details on the winter vaccination programme can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk/wintervaccines.
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