Doctors warn of ‘most extreme flu outbreak in a long time’ as infections start to surge
With the worst of the flu season yet to descend on us, health experts are urging people to get their flu jabs to protect themselves from becoming ‘seriously ill’
Health officials are pushing for more people to get their flu jabs in preparation for what has been predicted as the “most severe flu outbreak in decades.”
Hospital beds are already filling up after the H3N2 strain is spreading, with current infection levels reaching figures experts do not usually expect to see until the end of the year.
As well as that, doctors are worried about the lack of vulnerable people stepping up for their flu injections, as the NHS prepares for a tough winter.
Doctor and TV health expert Hilary Jones spoke more about the NHS’ ‘SOS campaign’, which is urging people to get their flu jabs this week. He said that ‘Australia had the worst flu for seven years’ and that their winter ‘tends to follow here.’
He added: “We’re already seeing a spike in hospitalisations here, so the season has started early.”
The health expert also explained that the virus driving the flu also mutates. This means that it can slip under the radar, and beat immunity that we’ve built over years of vaccinations and illness.
Just over the summer, H3N2 formed seven mutations, which means those who were vaccinated last year might not be protected against it.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine show, he said: “We’re getting the warning now that this could be a very bad season for flu. The NHS have launched this SOS campaign saying there are 2.4 million appointments available next week for people to go and get their jabs.
“Many people are eligible for a free vaccination.”
Not just that, but people have been warned that the flu is so much “worse” than a simple cold – and it could knock people down for at least a week.
He said on the popular morning show: “We shouldn’t think of flu as being a bad cold, it’s much much worse. Raging sore throat, high fever, aching muscles, you’re bed-bound for a week or so.
“Last year there were 70,000 excess deaths in Europe, 7,500 here. Some of them were children – 53 children died of flu last winter. So it’s not just the elderly.”
Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?
According to the NHS, the flu vaccine is recommended for people ‘at higher risk of getting seriously ill’ from the flu. Every year, it’s offered on the NHS in the autumn or early winter – so around this time of year.
The NHS states that you can get the free flu vaccine if you:
- Are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2026)
- Have certain long-term health conditions
- Are pregnant
- Live in a care home
- Are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
- Live with someone who has a weakened immune system
- Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.
It comes as earlier this week, NHS England announced that it will be making 2.4 million vaccination appointments available from next week.
Public health minister Ashley Dalton said: “Vaccination is the best form of defence against flu – particularly for the most vulnerable. With flu cases already triple what they were this time last year, I urge everyone eligible to take up one of the 2.4 million appointments available next week.”
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