Flu vaccine deadline looms as hospital admissions double
Latest UKHSA data indicates more flu is already circulating this winter compared to last year.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)바카라 사이트檚 latest data shows that hospitalisations as a result of flu have more than doubled in the past week.
The latest edition of UKHSA바카라 사이트檚 COVID-19, influenza (flu), RSV and norovirus surveillance bulletin(formally Weekly Winter Briefing) shows that hospitalisations jumped to 3.96 per 100,000 this week, compared with 1.78 per 100,000 in the previous week바카라 사이트檚 report.
The percentage of people with respiratory symptoms who tested positive for flu increased from 6.6% last week to 11.1% this week, according to data from the Respiratory DataMart surveillance system.
Flu is now circulating at a higher rate than the same week last year when positivity was 2.3%. This is leading UKHSA experts to urge those who are still eligible for vaccination to come forward as soon as possible, before the closes on 20 December.
Vaccine uptake data indicates that 36% of those under 65 years in a clinical risk group, 31.9% of pregnant women and 71.4% of all those aged 65 years and over have been vaccinated so far this season 바카라 사이트� a lower percentage compared to the same time last year.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA, said:
It바카라 사이트檚 clear that unless more of those eligible to receive a flu vaccine come forward to receive their flu vaccine, we are likely to see more cases of flu, and more hospitalisations and deaths, than we saw last year.
It is still early in the season, so there is still time to change the trajectory and reduce the impact of flu in our communities in time for Christmas, but time is running out.聽It바카라 사이트檚聽vital that those聽eligible who聽have still not been vaccinated come forward as soon as possible聽before the NHS booking system closes on 20 December聽바카라 사이트� not just to protect themselves, but protect their families and friends too.
The UKHSA COVID-19, influenza (flu), RSV and norovirus surveillance bulletin also showed an increase in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases, while COVID-19 continued to circulate at low levels.
Vaccination against RSV is being offered for the first time this year to anyone who is 28 or more weeks pregnant, along with people aged 75-79 years.
The flu, COVID-19 and RSV surveillance report has been published. The norovirus surveillance report has been published.