Warning that swine flu could return this winter: Experts urge millions of Brits to get jabs before season kicks off
Britain could be hit again by swine flu this winter, health bosses fear.
Officials are now urging millions of eligible Brits to get their annual jab before the season starts.
The flu claimed more lives than Covid last winter, killing more than 14,000 people. But experts fear this season could be even worse.
The heads of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are particularly alarmed by the threat of H1N1.
The strain – responsible for the 2009 swine flu pandemic that killed tens of thousands across the planet – has barely spread in Britain since 2019.
In an effort to ‘get back to normal’, invitations are not being extended to millions between the ages of 50 and 64 who were eligible during the pandemic
H1N1 (pictured), the virus strain responsible for swine flu, ‘could return’ to Britain, officials said. The strain has been largely suppressed in Britain since 2019, but is circulating at high levels this year in Australia, which has just had its winter flu season, suggesting the strain could become dominant again.
However, the disease is circulating widely in Australia, which has just had its flu season and is acting as a canary in the coal mine for the Northern Hemisphere.
Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UKHSA, said: ‘Last year the flu virus was estimated to be responsible for more than 14,000 excess deaths and tens of thousands of hospital admissions, including more than 10,000 in children.
‘Last winter, the vaccine prevented an estimated 25,000 hospital admissions.
‘But this could be even greater if everyone eligible for the flu vaccine comes forward this year.
‘Pregnant women, young children and people with chronic health conditions are particularly vulnerable and we have good evidence that this year’s vaccine will provide good protection.
‘Taking both the flu and Covid vaccines before winter provides the best protection against serious illness and will help ease pressure on the NHS this winter.’
Lockdown measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic suppressed the flu virus for two years, she said.
But it saw a massive resurgence last year, taking advantage of low population immunity.
Figures show that 3.7 million people have received their flu jab since the campaign started on September 11, with many choosing to ‘double up’ and receive flu and Covid vaccines at the same time.
2.4 million Covid shots were administered in the same period.
This year, up to 30 million people will be eligible for a flu shot and 25 million for Covid vaccines.
Care home residents and people who are homebound in England will be offered both vaccines.
Those eligible for additional doses include people over 65, frontline health and social care workers and pregnant women.
The plan, which was due to start in October, was brought forward by a whole month to boost protection for the most vulnerable, amid fears that the Pirola Covid strain would cause a new wave of infections and would overwhelm the NHS.
Those who are eligible can book via the NHS website, the NHS app or by calling 119 from 8am.
The latest data published by the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care shows that around 235,000 cases of flu have been reported.
The severity of the flu season is rated ‘low’ due to the effectiveness of the vaccine against severe disease.
However, since seasonal surveillance began in April 2023, 73 percent of hospitalized flu cases have been children under 16 years of age.
Swine flu, or H1N1, rarely spreads from animal to person, but the infamous 2009 outbreak resulted from the virus mutating, allowing people to become ill.
The outbreak disproportionately affected children and teenagers who were more susceptible to illnesses severe enough to require hospitalization.
A spike in infections across the country has seen Covid hospital admissions in England reach a five-month high. The latest NHS data shows that daily Covid hospital admissions have risen by 87 per cent since June, with a seven-day rolling average of 469 hospital admissions per day on September 8, up from 251 on June 7
A independent assessment of the British response The 2009 pandemic revealed that 457 deaths were caused by swine flu in the country.
The symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of other influenza viruses and include fever, aches, chills, cough, headache, nausea and fatigue.
But the cases are normally mild and go away on their own within a few weeks, with little risk of death.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Thomas Waite said: ‘Flu and Covid circulated last winter causing significant spikes and resulting in thousands of hospital admissions and deaths. It is important that we are protected from both.
‘Vaccination is our strongest form of defence, so if you are eligible, please come forward and get your jab as soon as possible.’
Meanwhile, Vaccines Minister Maria Caulfield added: ‘Having started the NHS winter vaccination campaign early, this winter rollout will continue our tireless efforts to provide our communities with immunity against Covid and flu and protect the most vulnerable among us.
‘The flu placed a greater burden on hospitals than Covid last year, so it is vital that we all join in reducing the pressure on the healthcare system by booking our Covid and flu shots as soon as possible to protect ourselves and our loved ones protect against infections. ‘
Health chiefs have boasted that there are around 3,500 sites across England – more sites than ever before – involved in the vaccination campaign.
Last year the NHS carried out its second largest flu vaccination campaign ever, with more than 21 million flu jabs delivered to adults and children, while more than 17 million Covid jabs were administered last winter.
Health chiefs were shocked in August by the emergence of a new Covid variant Pirola, scientifically known as BA.2.86, after it was found to have a catalog of more than 30 mutations.
The heads of the UKHSA today said it was ‘too early’ to determine the severity of the new variant, but that ‘early evidence suggests BA.2.86 is not more likely to evade vaccines’ than other variants.