(Photo credit: LuAnn Hun/Pixabay CC)
Autumn is here; the weather is getting cooler, students are back at schools and colleges, and cough and cold season starts. On top of this, COVID cases are also rising; with theOffice for National Statistics reporting 1 in 37 people in the UK had coronavirus in the second week of October, a rise from 1 in 50 the week before, with a notable rise in cases in older age groups.
Whilst COVID-19 is expected to increase as we head towards the winter months, immunity from vaccines will also be waning, so the government is inviting everyone over 50 to book a coronavirus booster this autumn, and a flu jab, to help reduce levels of illness over the winter months.
As we learn to “live with COVID”, many people will experience their second or even third COVID infection, showing that the virus is here to stay.
Although COVID is now causing fewer hospitalisations, it still has the potential to cause serious illness, especially in the elderly and vulnerable, so healthcare providers are advising that people take some measures to protect themselves and their families from COVID.
Although social distancing and isolation are no longer required by law, it is advised that people should reduce contact with others if they are unwell with symptoms of COVID, and especially avoid contact with the elderly or people with underlying health conditions that may be more vulnerable to infection. Wearing masks can also be beneficial in protecting people from infection.
This advice is also applicable to flu, which, like COVID, can be a serious illness in the elderly and vulnerable, and even in the general population, can cause a lot of sickness and time off work and school.
There are concerns about flu levels this year – with social distancing over the past few winters, the levels of coughs, colds and especially flu have been lower.
This has meant our immunity to these viruses has been lowered due to lack of exposure, and so we could be in for a tough flu season. Based on the experiences of Australia this year, which has its winter from June through August, they have reported their worst flu season in five years.
There are reports that the flu arrived earlier than usual and was severe. Healthcare providers in the UK always look to what happened in Australia over their winter as an indication of what to expect for our flu season.
Scientists look at the dominant strains of virus-causing flu in the southern hemisphere, and they form part of the information used for making the flu vaccines we have here in the winter, as the same strains of flu are likely to cause our winter infections.
Given the news from Australia, healthcare providers have said they fear a ‘twin demic’ of flu and COVID, which could put pressure on an already strained NHS.
We may not have social distancing anymore, but we can all still do our best to protect ourselves from infections—be it a cough, cold, flu, or COVID.
During the COVID pandemic, we all started to be conscious of how we spread germs and maintaining many of these practices will reduce the risk of getting ill. Firstly, wash your hands – especially after being in public spaces, on public transport. Carry a hand gel. Wear a mask on public transport.
Many people are still doing this in other busy public places too, such as shops. Stay away from others if you have symptoms such as high fever, coughing, or sore throat, and especially avoid contact with the elderly and vulnerable. To boost your immunity, get your COVID and flu vaccines.
Who can get their COVID-19 booster?
It was announced in August that 26 million people in England would be eligible for an autumn COVID booster.
There is now a new vaccine for COVID that has been approved which has been updated to target the original COVID-19 variant and the newer Omicron strain. The majority of people should get this bivalent vaccine, but experts stress that both the current and bivalent vaccines provide good protection from severe illness and hospitalisation.
The following can book their COVID vaccine: People aged 50 or over; frontline health and social care staff; carers; anyone who is pregnant; people with health conditions that put them at a higher risk; household contacts of people with weakened immune systems.
Who can get a free flu jab?
It is a similar group to the COVID-19 vaccine, but it does not include all carers. All primary and some secondary school children, as well as two-to three-year-olds, are eligible for a free flu vaccine. Children do not get a jab; they are given a nasal spray.
If you are not eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can pay for one, so ask your local pharmacy. Many pharmacies will offer the flu jab, so it is worth checking. If you want to have both jabs at the same time, NHS England says you can ask during your first appointment, although it may not be possible.
Rachel Kayani
