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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Flu jab vital this winter along with Covid vaccine | Flu jab vital this winter along with Covid vaccine |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The public are being reminded to come forward for their flu jab to maximise their protection ahead of winter. | The public are being reminded to come forward for their flu jab to maximise their protection ahead of winter. |
| Health officials are worried because this will be the first winter Covid and flu circulate fully at the same time. | Health officials are worried because this will be the first winter Covid and flu circulate fully at the same time. |
| Research shows those infected with both viruses are more than twice as likely to die as someone with Covid alone. | Research shows those infected with both viruses are more than twice as likely to die as someone with Covid alone. |
| More than 40 million people across the UK - 35 million in England - are being offered a jab this year in the biggest flu vaccination campaign so far. | More than 40 million people across the UK - 35 million in England - are being offered a jab this year in the biggest flu vaccination campaign so far. |
| And this includes, for the first time, all secondary-school children up to the age of 16. | And this includes, for the first time, all secondary-school children up to the age of 16. |
| 'Get vaccinated' | 'Get vaccinated' |
| Alongside the extended flu campaign, the over-50s and younger adults with health conditions are also being offered a Covid booster jab this autumn and winter. | Alongside the extended flu campaign, the over-50s and younger adults with health conditions are also being offered a Covid booster jab this autumn and winter. |
| Dr Jenny Harries, head of the newly formed UK Health Security Agency, warned the level of immunity to flu was likely to be lower this winter because very little of the virus had been circulating last year, because of social distancing and lockdown. | Dr Jenny Harries, head of the newly formed UK Health Security Agency, warned the level of immunity to flu was likely to be lower this winter because very little of the virus had been circulating last year, because of social distancing and lockdown. |
| "It is really important people get vaccinated," she said. | "It is really important people get vaccinated," she said. |
| "This is the first winter where we will have seasonal flu and Covid co-circulating." | "This is the first winter where we will have seasonal flu and Covid co-circulating." |
| How can I get a flu jab? | How can I get a flu jab? |
| Plan A or Plan B - what could happen this winter? | Plan A or Plan B - what could happen this winter? |
| People are vaccinated, so why are cases rising? | People are vaccinated, so why are cases rising? |
| England's deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam said "we need to take this seriously and defend ourselves" by taking the vaccines when offered. | |
| "Both these viruses are serious: they can both spread easily, cause hospitalisation and they can both be fatal," he said. | |
| Flu kills about 11,000 people every winter in England and, combined with other respiratory illness, leads to more than 1,000 hospital admissions a day - more, currently, than Covid. | |
| And this winter, respiratory illness could hit very high levels, causing severe strain on the NHS and up to 60,000 deaths, according to a report from the Academy of Medical Colleges. | |
| Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of hospital admission in the under-fives, is already circulating at much higher levels than normal. | |
| The winter warning comes as the government launches an advertising campaign, featuring TV medics Dr Amir Khan, Dr Dawn Harper and Dr Karan Ranj, to encourage those eligible to come forward for both the flu and Covid boosters. | |
| The following groups are among those eligible for winter vaccines: | The following groups are among those eligible for winter vaccines: |
| over-50s (Covid booster and flu jab) | over-50s (Covid booster and flu jab) |
| younger people with health conditions (Covid booster and flu jab) | younger people with health conditions (Covid booster and flu jab) |
| health and care workers (Covid booster and flu jab) | health and care workers (Covid booster and flu jab) |
| pregnant women (flu jab) | pregnant women (flu jab) |
| two- to 16-year-olds (flu jab) | two- to 16-year-olds (flu jab) |
| GP surgeries will contact patients eligible for the free NHS flu vaccine or eligible patients can book an appointment at a pharmacy. | |
| People who qualify for the coronavirus booster are being told to wait until they are contacted. | |
| Anyone who is not eligible for a free flu jab can pay for it privately at many pharmacies, at a cost of about £15. | |
| LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area? | LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area? |
| THE R NUMBER: What it means and why it matters | THE R NUMBER: What it means and why it matters |
| VACCINE: When will I get the jab? | VACCINE: When will I get the jab? |
| NEW VARIANTS: How worried should we be? | NEW VARIANTS: How worried should we be? |
| COVID IMMUNITY: Can you catch it twice? | COVID IMMUNITY: Can you catch it twice? |
| GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER: Listen along to Bernardine Evaristo's Booker Prize-winning novel | |
| AUTUMN IS HERE: What is the obsession with all things autumn, Halloween and pumpkin spice? |