Time for a flu jab as cases are rising
WEST Midlands people eligible for the free flu vaccine are being urged to take up the offer, after latest data shows many people in the most vulnerable groups remain unprotected.
This comes as 9% of patients in hospital with flu in the region have needed to be moved to intensive care units (ITU) or high dependency units (HDU) over the last week.
Parents of two to three-yearolds are being reminded to protect their youngsters from flu, as latest figures show that children under five years old make up the highest rate of hospitalisations for flu in the country.
For the West Midlands, uptake of the nasal flu vaccine in 2-year olds is at best 29.7%, with uptake as low as 11.6%. While the highest coverage for 3-year-olds in the region is just 30.7%, with lowest figures at 13.2%
Encouragingly, rates in primary school children across the country are exceeding last year’s uptake levels for the comparable timeframe, with over 21% vaccinated nationally – an increase of over 7% from last year.
Pregnant women in the region are also at greater risk of hospitalisations due to severe effects of flu, and complications for their unborn child. However in the West Midlands, the highest uptake is just 31.3%, with a worrying low of just 11.4% uptake.
Dr James Chipwete, Health Protection Consultant and flu lead with UKHSA West Midlands, said: “The latest data gives us great cause for concern, with some of the most vulnerable people of all ages still unprotected against flu. The fact that we have seen a rise of 9% of hospitalised flu cases needing treatment in ICUS and HDUS in the region, shows how dangerous flu can be, and we are only at the start of the flu season.
“As cases of flu are increasing, we’re urging parents to get their children protected, as nationally rates of flu are highest in 5–14-year-olds, while the greatest number of hospitalisations for flu are currently in under 5s.
“This year, with everyone mixing as we did before the pandemic, and reduced immunity after not mixing as much for the last few years, we are preparing for a challenging winter. Currently COVID-19 levels are low, but cases are likely to rise steeply, and this, along with circulation of flu, could make for one of the most challenging winter seasons we have ever seen.”