High flu vaccine uptake in people aged 65+ in North West

In the North West, the NHS has so far vaccinated 77.3.3% of those aged 65 years and over against flu this season which exceeds the World Health Organization uptake ambition of 75%.  

Uptake in two and three-year-old children and clinical at-risk groups (aged under 65 years) has also increased from last year.

These figures are a reflection of the hard work of the wide range of NHS and public health professionals involved in planning and delivering our national immunisation programme.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

“It is thanks to all our frontline health care workers that the uptake of the flu vaccine is so high this year and it’s a brilliant achievement that we have vaccinated more people who are 65 and over than ever before. We knew how challenging this winter would be, but the NHS is used to delivering these large vaccination programmes to those who need it most.

“This is in addition to the incredible work going on by everyone to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine as fast as possible, with over 1.3 million vaccinations delivered. If you are called for either your flu or COVID-19 vaccination, please make sure you get it to protect you and your loved ones.”

Flu is a serious condition that kills on average 11,000 people in England each year and hospitalises many more.

Public Health England research suggests that people infected with both flu and COVID-19 between January and April were more at risk of severe illness and death.

The flu vaccine saves lives and with COVID-19 also circulating, it is more important than ever that people get vaccinated to help protect people in the North West from a double threat this winter whilst relieving pressure on the NHS and social care system when they are dealing with high numbers of COVID-19.

Dianne Draper, Screening and Immunisation for Public Health England North West, said:

“If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to get your flu vaccine this year, I’d like to remind you that it’s not too late. It’s important that you get vaccinated to protect you from catching flu and spreading it among your family, friends and community.

“With COVID-19 in circulation this flu season, it is more important than ever to reduce the number of people becoming ill with flu this winter to help protect them and the NHS.”

The flu vaccine is safe and the best defence against flu. People who are eligible for the free flu vaccine under the national NHS programme this year include:

• People aged 65 years and over
• Those aged six months to 64 with a long-term health condition
• Children aged two to three (on 31 August 2020) via their GP practice
• Primary school children
• Pregnant women
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Main carers of an older or disabled person
• Household contacts of people on the NHS Shielded Patient List
• Those aged 50-64 years (including those who turn 50 by the 31 March 2021)

From 1 December 2020, the flu immunisation programme was expanded to include those aged 50-64 years and year seven school pupils.

So, if you’ve not had yours yet, make an appointment at your General Practice or Community Pharmacy to get your flu jab today.

A pharmacy finder has been launched which points people to their nearest participating pharmacy providing flu vaccines: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/pharmacy-nhs-flu-vaccine-service

PHE exists to protect and improve the nation's health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. It does this through advocacy, partnerships, world-class science, knowledge and intelligence, and the delivery of specialist public health services. PHE is an operationally autonomous executive agency of the Department of Health.

More about flu

1. Flu is an acute infection of the respiratory tract and symptoms include fever, chills, headache, aching muscles, joint pain, sore throat and fatigue. You should only request a COVID-19 test if you have a new, continuous cough; a high temperature; or loss of or change to sense of smell or taste.
2. Flu can be particularly serious in older adults, very young children and people with underlying health conditions, such as COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease or a chronic neurological disease like multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and some learning disabilities. Flu on top of health conditions like these increases the chance of serious health complications resulting in a hospital visit.
3. It is highly contagious and is spread by coughs and sneezes. As well as getting the flu vaccine, continuing good hand hygiene seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can help limit its spread – washing hands more often for 20 seconds and catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue and throwing it away.
4. The number of flu cases and deaths due to flu-related complications varies each flu season. The average number of estimated deaths in England for the last five seasons (2015/16 to 2019/20) was over 11,000 deaths annually. This ranged from almost 4,000 deaths in 2018/19 to over 22,000 deaths in 2017/18. Of these deaths, many were in people with underlying conditions.
5. Last season (2019/20) the population eligible for vaccination was c.25 million and c.15 million were vaccinated (»60%). The figures are based on end of season vaccinations captured by the GP patients survey; the frontline HCWs survey, and school-aged children’s survey. Links to the PHE vaccine uptake reports for 2019/20 are given below:

 Flu vaccine uptake in North West (up to November 30, 2020)

• 65s and over – 77.3%

• Aged 2 (and not in clinical risk group) – 45.6%

• Aged 3 (and not in clinical risk group) – 47.9%

• Pregnant women – 38.3%

• Under 65s (at risk only) – 44.1%