The UK may face a very difficult flu season during the coming winter, because people have much less immunity due to the restrictions introduced in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, UK Health Minister Sajid Javid warned on Sunday.
Speaking to Sky News, he said the government was preparing to launch the largest flu vaccination program in UK history and stressed that for people over 50, “getting vaccinated against flu will be as important as getting vaccinated against Covid” .
In July, the British government announced that a record number of over 35 million people would be entitled to the free flu vaccine this winter. When presenting these plans, the ministry of health admitted that “it is possible that the level of flu this winter will be higher”.
“Winter, autumn is not only COVID-19, which likes this part of the year – it is also other viruses” – said Javid, explaining that an equally important element of human health defense as preparation for the third – booster – dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is influenza vaccination program.
«Why am I worried about this? Because last year, due to all the restrictions that were put in place, we didn’t have too many flu cases. Which means there is far less immunity to the flu than usual. And we know that in some years, in a bad flu season, how terrible it can be, ”said the Minister of Health.
«So, in addition to continuing our COVID-19 vaccination program, we will have the largest flu vaccination program ever – and I would tell those people who listen, and certainly those over 50, that getting the flu vaccine will be the same as important as vaccines against COVID-19 »- he stressed.
From London, Bartłomiej Niedziński
Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.
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