With a “tidal wave” of infections leading to a 70% increase in hospital cases across just seven days, the local NHS is calling on eligible people to get vaccinated without delay, if they have not done so already, to avoid “festive flu”.
An average of 1,861 patients with flu were in hospital every day last week – up from 1,099 in the previous week and a staggering 3.5 times higher compared to the same time last year.
In addition, the latest UK Health Security Agency Covid-19, influenza (flu), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and norovirus surveillance bulletin shows that flu positivity in week 49 of the year jumped to 17.1%, compared to 11.6% in the previous week.
Winter’s a difficult time, because viral infections like flu, Covid-19 and RSV are much more prevalent. This is why vaccinations are so important.
Kingston Hospital respiratory consultant Dr John Chinegwundoh
Norovirus and RSV are also on the rise – norovirus cases are up by 10% from last week and almost two-thirds (64%) since last year and 152 children were in hospital with RSV each day, up by over two-fifths on the same period last year (week ending 10 December 2023).
Dr John Byrne, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS in south west London, leads the local vaccination programme.
He said: “Every vaccination counts – we’re looking at how we can reach out to everyone eligible across south west London to increase the number of people coming forward.”
Dr John Chinegwundoh, who works as a respiratory consultant at Kingston Hospital, said: “Winter’s a difficult time, because viral infections like flu, Covid-19 and RSV are much more prevalent. This is why vaccinations are so important.
“These viruses can cause bronchitis or even pneumonia – serious conditions. A lot of planning goes into winter to make sure we can respond to the increase of people coming through our doors. We use extra beds, encourage staff to get vaccinated, recruit extra staff and we have additional doctors working. But ultimately prevention is always better than cure.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, said: “The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning for patients and for the NHS – the figures are adding to our ‘quad-demic’ worries.
“While the NHS has plans in place to manage additional demand over the busy winter period, with one week left to book your vaccine, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting booked in to protect yourself against serious illness and to avoid ‘festive flu’.”
The latest figures come as flu and Covid-19 vaccination uptake rates are still not at the levels needed to prevent further rises in hospital admissions. Vaccine uptake currently stands at 37% for those in a clinical risk group.
This rapid rise of seasonal illnesses is prompting further ‘quad-demic’ concerns across the NHS.
The national booking system for flu vaccination closes on 19 December and, with NHS hospitals already managing record flu levels going into winter, medical experts are urging those who are still eligible for vaccination to book their appointments immediately.
After this date people will only be able to access the flu vaccine through their GPs and some pharmacies.
In line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, those currently eligible for a flu vaccine this year include:
- pregnant women
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
- primary school aged children (from reception to year 6)
- secondary school aged children (from year 7 to year 11)
- all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
- those aged 65 years and over
- those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book)
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or personal health budgets, such as personal assistants.
Book, change or cancel a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy
People eligible for a Covid-19 booster are:
- residents in a care home for older adults
- all adults aged 65 years and over
- anyone aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book, including pregnant women
- frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults.
All NHS frontline health workers have also been offered the Covid-19 and flu vaccines and encouraged to protect themselves and those they care for.
Book, change or cancel a COVID-19 vaccination appointment
For the first time, the NHS is also offering the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine to pregnant women from 28 weeks and older adults aged 75 to 79. Pregnant women are encouraged to book their vaccine via their maternity service or GP practice and older adults should wait to be invited by the NHS.
It is most likely that the emergence of an unusual norovirus genotype, GII.17 is driving increases. This genotype has become the most commonly detected in England since April 2024, accounting for 63.2% of characterised samples during the 2024/25 season to date.
To reduce the spread of norovirus, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, as alcohol-based hand sanitisers are not effective against the virus. Stay at home for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop and disinfect surfaces using a bleach-based cleaner where possible.