CNO shares concern as flu season arrives ‘unusually’ early

The chief nursing officer (CNO) is calling for more children to get vaccinated as the flu season has arrived several weeks earlier than usual.

There are especially high recorded rates of flu among children and young people at this point in the year.

Data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) yesterday shows cases of flu have increased this week from 6.1% up to 8.2% in all age groups – largely driven by a ‘sharp increase’ among school-aged children – and is up from 2.9% this time last year.

Duncan Burton, said: ‘This early rise of flu in children is particularly concerning – especially given that flu circulation in children normally precedes that in adults – so it’s vitally important that those eligible come forward for their vaccine as soon as possible to avoid a long and drawn-out flu season.’

Mr Burton stressed the importance of vaccination to prevent the spread of flu and to keep families protected.

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In children aged five to 14, the flu positivity rate was 30.8% compared to 20.0% last week.

Flu hospitalisations also increased from 1.74 per 100,000 to 2.19 per 100,000, with a total of 247 new hospitalisations this week.

‘Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways to help shield against the virus and prepare for what we expect to be a very challenging winter, so I would urge everyone eligible to come forward for their jabs as soon as they can, with easy to book appointments or drop-in sessions now available closer to home,’ Mr Burton added.

Earlier this month, appearing before the Covid-19 Inquiry, the CNO said he was ‘terrified’ about falling vaccination rates and rising hesitancy.

The winter vaccination campaign

So far, more than 12.2 million flu vaccines have been delivered this season, including over 6.7 million doses to people aged 65 and over, 1.8 million to school-aged children, and more than 366,000 to two- and three-year-olds.

This year, eligible groups have been able to book their flu or Covid-19 vaccine appointments since 1 September, allowing people to plan ahead for the winter.

Health officials are urging all eligible adults to get vaccinated by the end of November.

‘An unusually early start’

Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said that flu was starting to spread ‘more widely’.

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‘We’re seeing an unusually early start to the flu season this year, with the latest data showing a sharp increase among children but also increases in other age groups, with the virus now starting to spread more widely in the community.

‘If you’re eligible for a vaccine it is because you are at greater risk of severe illness – every year we see many thousands end up in hospital and far too many deaths from flu. It’s crucial that everyone eligible books their appointment as soon as possible. The vaccine is our best defence.’

He suggested that people with flu or Covid symptoms should minimise contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable, wash hands regularly, and consider wearing a face mask if they are leaving the house.

Flu vaccines are available for people aged 65 and over, under-65s in clinical risk groups, care home residents, carers, pregnant women, close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed, and frontline health and social care workers, as well as children.

A series of vaccination pop-up sites were run in fire stations and other community spaces during half term in a bid to tackle a ‘worrying increase’ in flu among children.

A new NHS service enabling community pharmacies to administer flu vaccinations to children aged two to three years was launched as a one-season trial from 1 October.

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Last month, the UKHSA warned that a significant proportion of children who returned to school in England this year did not receive their pre-school booster jab.

From January, children will be offered a chickenpox vaccine for the first time as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule.