PANDEMICS ARE NOT new to us and we have always been susceptible to outbreaks and epidemics. In 1918 Spanish flu swept the world and claimed 50 million lives. Since then we started to learn how to deal with infectious diseases and protect the population from the worst. Spanish flu only claimed so many lives because there was no healthcare system, living conditions were generally bad so people weren’t as healthy and they didn’t live so long. By the time the next epidemic came along – SARS in 2002 and MERS in 2012 – the concept of isolation and quarantine was widely practiced, the population was more healthy, with better diet and living conditions. SARS caused only 8000 deaths worldwide.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
George Santayana (Philosopher)
The introduction of COVID-19 restrictions – such as mask-wearing, physical and social distancing, and restricted international travel resulted in “extremely low” levels of influenza across the world in 2020/21.
However, it seems we might be in for a rough winter, with viruses such as influenza likely to affect more people than usual. This is partly due to the fact that very few people took up the offer of an influenza vaccination during 20/21 and, with a global lack of defence built up against influenza, modelling for this next season suggests that flu levels in the UK could be up to 50% larger than typically seen, according to an open letter from the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England and NHS England.
What is more, the 2021/22 flu season may begin earlier than usual, and it will also be the first winter in the UK when seasonal influenza virus (and other respiratory viruses) will co-circulate alongside COVID-19.
As a result, the government and health bodies are preparing “the most comprehensive flu vaccination programme in UK history”, offering more than 35 million people a free flu jab.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has told the Commons that flu is a “really significant risk – not least because for reasons that we are all familiar with, there wasn’t much flu last year”.
Pharmacist, Duncan Reid says this year’s ‘flu peak’ is likely to be more severe than usual. He suggests that more people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Lockdowns and social distancing measures, coupled with increased hygiene awareness to reduce the spread of Covid also helped to stop the spread of the flu [last winter]. Due to this, the immunity to flu throughout the general population has decreased.
“This lower immunity in the community combined with other factors, including workers returning to offices as well as more people catching public transport, could lead to flu cases rising. It’s likely that this season’s flu peak will be more severe than expected due to this, although this is hard to predict.”
Rising flu and Covid cases, will place “increased pressure on health services”, he adds.
In today’s climate though, understanding the symptoms and getting a diagnosis might feel more difficult.
“Currently, it can be hard to know what to do if you’re unwell or have a concern about your health, as people are unsure whether their health concern requires a GP or hospital visit,” says Reid.
“However, it’s vital that people get medical help if they think you need it, keep any appointments or procedures that are booked, and go to hospital if advised to. It’s also important to remember that doctors’ surgeries and hospitals have made significant changes to ensure it’s as safe as possible for people to be seen during the pandemic. A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies.”
You can also call 111 for advice.
“If you get flu and Covid-19 at the same time, research shows you’re more likely to be seriously ill,” says Reid. “Yet it’s recently been announced that people can have their Covid vaccine only one week after having their flu jab. This will undoubtedly keep flu cases as low as possible. There is also continuing research to see whether the Covid vaccines and flu vaccine can be administered alongside each other.”
Reid says the flu vaccine is “hugely important” for the public, especially because misinformation and myths about flu remain a danger.
“Getting a flu vaccination, especially if you are in one of the high-risk categories, can help to protect you and those around you and also help to reduce the pressure on the NHS,” he says.
Speaking from my own experience, I would not wish the flu on anyone, never mind Covid, and it’s not about protecting just yourself. Throughout its history, the flu vaccine has been shown to reduce infection rates across the whole population.
