UK: Flu vaccination uptake up, but so is illness

December 15, 2008

Flu vaccination uptake up, but so is illness

11 Dec 08

By Lilian Anekwe

Just over half of patients aged over 65 have received their annual flu

vaccination, according to the first uptake figures published for this

season’s campaign.

Provisional data released from NHS Immunisation, derived from 7,139 (86%) of

the 8,330 GP practices in England, shows that by then end of October 55.9%

of patients aged 65 years and over had received their flu jab – up slightly

from 54.7% at the same time last year.

30.6% of patients aged under 65 and in a clinical risk group had received

their flu jab by the end of October, another modest increase from last

year’s figure of 28.4%.

So far the flu vaccination campaign has not been dogged by the shortages of

vaccine seen in previous years. But the latest weekly report on influenza,

compiled by the HPA and including data up to December 7th, warns that

influenza activity across the UK appeared to be increasing.'

The more recent data included in the HPA's weekly report puts flu vaccine

uptake at 71.4% in the over 65s and 43.4% in the under 65s.

The HPA report also states threshold for NHS direct have been exceeded, and

the service has seen a 200% increase in the volume of cold and flu-related

calls to their hotline.

From September 8 to December 7 NHS Direct experienced a 206% rise in callers

ringing to seek medical advice about colds, flu, coughs and fever.

NHS Direct has also launched a ‘symptom checker’ tool, adapted from the

diagnostic protocol used by nurses at the NHD Direct call centre, to ease

demand and advise patients whether to seek medical attention from their GP.

Anne , associate direction of pharmacy at NHS Direct, said: ‘The website

advice will set out the options for self care –whether a visit to a pharmacy to

speak to a pharmacist is needed, or whether it is best to contact a GP and if

necessary it might prompt you to go to A & E.’

Recommended Posts