An injection of common sense

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IT IS inevitable that the Government – and health agencies – will have to react to events when dealing with a pandemic as indiscriminate as Covid- 19.

Events have already borne this out, like changes in World Health Organisation advice which sparked the hiatus over the wearing of face masks in schools.

But there are areas of health prevention policy where a more proactive approach, backed up by clear communication, can lessen the risks to society and, in turn, ease the burden on hospitals, and care homes, as the country becomes more accustomed to living and working with such a pernicious disease.

And a case in point is winter flu jabs – even more so in light of today’s revelations about the take- up of vaccinations in Yorkshire and elsewhere.

For, while the number of senior citizens receiving inoculations is in line with WHO guidelines, the challenge this year will be doing so when many elderly people are, understandably, reluctant to leave their homes – or fearful of going to their GP surgery ( if they can obtain an appointment) or pharmacy.

Early action now by the Government might help to ameliorate these concerns. It might also help convince the under- 65s that they, too, should seek the vaccines – the proportion of this cohort receiving flu each year jabs continues to fall significantly below benchmarks which have been set by the WHO.

An advisable health precaution, every injection lessens the risk of the NHS being overwhelmed by a ‘ double whammy’ of flu and Covid cases this winter – a lethal scenario that would also compromise the country’s economic recovery from the pandemic. But this will require the Government being far clearer, and far more consistent, with its messaging over public health, even more so at a time when every U- turn appears to be undermining trust in official guidance at such a critical time.