Read on Twitter
We hear a lot in the media about flu lately. That’s partly because evidence shows that coinfection with influenza and COVID-19 produces bad outcomes.
You could be more than twice as likely to die than someone with the coronavirus alone (source: https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3720)
You could be more than twice as likely to die than someone with the coronavirus alone (source: https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3720)
There’s also concern about a flu outbreak occurring at the same time as we’re dealing with coronavirus, which could add more pressure to the NHS. The 2019/20 flu season was relatively mild, with low levels of activity recorded.
However, 2017/18 saw high levels of activity...
However, 2017/18 saw high levels of activity...
...And *significant* excess all-cause mortality. Indeed the 2017/18 winter saw 50,100 excess deaths in England and Wales, likely “due to the predominant strain of flu, the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine and below-average winter temperatures.” https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/excesswintermortalityinenglandandwales/2017to2018provisionaland2016to2017final
To avoid a crisis in hospitals this winter it’s clearly important to keep influenza transmission low whilst COVID-19 is still circulating. This is why most people in England, about 30 million, have been offered a free flu vaccine this year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53515078
Cases, hospitalisations and reported deaths with COVID-19 have been increasing fairly steadily since early September. But influenza activity tends to occur later in winter, and peak between December and February.
Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/895233/Surveillance_Influenza_and_other_respiratory_viruses_in_the_UK_2019_to_2020_FINAL.pdf
Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/895233/Surveillance_Influenza_and_other_respiratory_viruses_in_the_UK_2019_to_2020_FINAL.pdf
According to this @BBCNews article, experts say this year’s flu vaccine is a good match for the strain that will be circulating: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54233515
Let’s hope this is the case and that all those vulnerable receive it. And flu numbers are kept as low as possible this winter.
Let’s hope this is the case and that all those vulnerable receive it. And flu numbers are kept as low as possible this winter.
