The ‘Twindemic’

It’s possible we’re heading for twin epidemics of flu and Covid-19 which will be in circulation this winter.

The UK Health Security Agency has urged parents to vaccinate their two and three-year-old children against flu this year and all those eligible for a flu vaccine should also book their jab.

More than 7,500 people could be admitted to hospital every week in January with Covid-19 or flu. That is way higher than the 4,000 weekly admissions for Covid which triggered the lockdowns.

Hospital admissions of people with Covid was 7.62 per 100,000 people in the week ending September 25, up from 4.91 per 100,000 the previous week – the first increase in hospital admissions since July.

We’re being urged to get double jabbed to ease pressure on health services.

Louise Blair, head of vaccines at Airfinity, admitted: “Vaccine fatigue could exacerbate the problem.”

Uptake of Covid boosters is currently only 70% in the UK.

“Higher uptake could protect healthcare systems this winter,” she added.