Everything to know about the 'tripledemic' vaccines as new Covid strains spread (original) (raw)

From this week, millions of people can book their flu and Covid-19 vaccinations as the NHS rolls out protection for those most at risk ahead of winter.

As children go back to school and the weather gets colder, illnesses including RSV, Covid and flu are now spreading in force. The NHS is aiming to crack down on the number of people getting ill by rolling out a host of winter vaccines.

Flu season typically peaks in December and January. Starting adult vaccinations from October will ensure that those most at risk are protected during the colder months when people gather indoors and viruses spread more easily, says the NHS.

READ MORE: What it's really like to have Covid right now as 'distinctive' XEC variant symptoms spread

This year's vaccination campaigns aim to prevent a 'tripledemic' of respiratory disease RSV, Covid and flu colliding while frontline staff are already facing a continuing NHS crisis, the health service has said. Demand is only expected to grow over the winter months as projections indicate that hospitalisations with Covid in the UK are set to rise as colder weather sets in.

The new Covid variant is spreading across Europe, with the XEC variant predicted to become the dominant strain of the virus. To understand whether this is the case with XEC, though, we will need to wait a few more weeks or months so that health experts can establish how severe symptoms caused by this strain are, scientists have said.

Despite only being found three weeks ago, 13% of cases in Germany are now the XEC variant, and it has been detected in 27 countries. More than 80 cases have now been reported in the UK.

Richard Orton, a Bioinformatics Research Associate at the University of Glasgow, told The Conversation media outlet about the concerning trajectory of XEC: "XEC appears to have a growth advantage and is spreading faster than other circulating variants, suggesting it will become the dominant variant globally in the next few months."

For the first time, the NHS is offering vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of coughs and colds which can be dangerous to older people and young children. The jab, introduced earlier this month, is available to those aged 75 to 79, and is being offered to pregnant women from 28 weeks, to protect their child.

For eligible adults, the NHS will offer both flu and Covid-19 vaccines simultaneously, providing an opportunity to gain protection from both viruses in a single visit. However, it is recommended that the RSV vaccination be taken on a different day from any flu or Covid-19 vaccinations.

More than 2.8 million people in the north west are eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine and 4.2 million people are eligible for the flu vaccination ahead of winter.

In the first week alone, over 330,000 vaccine appointments are up for grabs at hundreds of sites across the north west, including GP practices and pharmacies.

This year, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has recommended that adults aged 65 and over, residents in older adult care homes and those with underlying health conditions aged 6 months to 64 years will be eligible for both flu and Covid-19 vaccinations, based on the latest scientific evidence.

As in previous years, the government has also decided that frontline health and social care staff will be offered the Covid-19 and flu vaccines, with staff in older adult care homes being offered the Covid-19 jab.

From this week, those eligible will start receiving invitations from the NHS for their vaccinations. GP practices and other local NHS services will also be reaching out to offer both vaccines. Flu vaccinations for children commenced in September for the new academic year, as part of efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Pregnant women have been able to receive their jab since 1 September.

The nasal flu vaccine is deemed the most effective for children aged between 2 and 17 years. If this is not suitable, the GP or practice nurse may be able to provide a flu vaccine injection as an alternative.

How to get a vaccination

Eligible people can book their vaccinations via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free if they can't get online. The vaccinations, which will be available from 3 October, are crucial to prevent serious illnesses and hospital admissions during the busy winter months, says the NHS.

Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu, Regional Director of Commissioning for NHS England North West, has urged the public to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and flu. She said: "The vaccines continue to provide the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation from Covid-19 and flu during the winter months. It takes just a few minutes to book online or via the NHS App or 119, so please make sure you come forward to get vaccinated and encourage loved ones who are eligible to do the same."

The full list of who is eligible for vaccinations and from when

From 3 October:

Those eligible for an autumn Covid booster are:

From 1 September:

Find out more here from the NHS.