Blog Post

One Flu Over? Staying Ahead of the (Next) Pandemic

Just when you thought it was safe, etc. Flu has had to take a back seat in recent times because of the understandable focus on Covid. But that doesn’t mean it’s gone away. The reverse is, unfortunately, true.

Let’s be blunt. We could be heading into a perfect storm of the UK’s most spreadable illnesses this winter. On the plus side, if you’re in the market for protection against them, then this is your year. The BBC, as with most domestic news agencies, predict a double whammy of Covid and Influenza (flu) this winter. Buckle up.

Why is this happening?

There are several factors driving this thinking. Firstly, that Australia, along with many Southern Hemisphere countries – has experienced the most extreme flu epidemic since the Big One, the Spanish Flu epidemic that claimed 50 million lives globally. While no-one’s predicting anything so grim, it’s not likely to be much fun, either.

It’ll hit the USA first. A respected science journalist, quoted in the New York Times, said “The flu season in the Southern Hemisphere is usually finishing up when ours is getting started. And it has been a bad flu season down there, which does not bode well for us.” You recall the old business adage about America sneezing, and the UK catching a cold? Suddenly, the Atlantic just isn’t big enough.

Any other factors?

Oh yes. ‘Tis the season for more than one thing. The return of schools after the summer holidays, the migration of communal activities indoors and, of course, Christmas are all going to pivot the scales towards a spike in flu infections.

Meanwhile, almost unnoticed in the endless distraction factory that is the domestic political situation, Covid cases are sneaking back up. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) report an infection increment of five per cent in the most recent period covered. It’s important to put that increase in context, of course. While 4,015 patients were admitted in the week ending 19 September, up 17% from 3,434 in the previous week, it’s nothing like as bad as the pandemic peak.

Equally, flu has yet to impact on us. But it will, as it does every year, putting an extra strain on the struggling NHS when it does. The NHS Trusts has issued guidance to their frontline staff – advice we’d do well to follow if we’re not going to add to their workloads.

What are they?

Essentially, take the offer of a flu jab or Covid booster when notified. You can even get help from your local pharmacist. The vaccination rollout program was one of the last government’s few successes during the pandemic and like the virus itself, the offer remains for eligible patients. The usual groups will be prioritized, and the over 50s are next in line. Gov.uk offers helpful guidelines around eligibility for Covid vaccinations here, and influenza here.

While there’s no vaccination against both flu and Covid available as a single hit, the UK is the innovator in terms of offering a ‘bivalent vaccine’ against Covid, which protects against both the original strain and the first Omicron variant (BA.1), which emerged last winter.

Roll your sleeves up

Essentially, if you’re in the vulnerable categories affected by either influenza or Covid – and there are many in both – then taking the precautions that have protected you so far are likely to do so again. Make sure you book yourself in for a Covid-19 booster jab. The same thing applies to the flu jab – book your NHS appointment here.

While you’re in the mood for self-protection, check out the NHS guide to vaccinations. It’s a terrific, one-stop shop that covers what you need from Day One.

In summary

Like with most things in life, prevention is better than cure, particularly when there isn’t one. So, if you are vulnerable to these viruses and want to protect yourself against them, then get your jabs and keep yourself safe. It’s not as though we haven’t had the practice.

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Coda Team