Covid and Flue crisis in Britain:Â Prof Kamila Hawthorne says that Figures from the college’s research study and surveillance center show that rates of flu-like illnesses, breathing problems, and the common cold have been increasing. He says they are currently seeing strep, tonsillitis, and upper respiratory infections above the seasonal average.” Prof Kamila Hawthorne is the chair of the Royal College of GPs (The Guardian)
Biggest problem: Twindemic
As it says in England NHS (September 6, 2022), this winter can be the first time we see the impacts of both Flu and Covid-19. Therefore, we must do everything we can to protect the staff and patients.
Independent says that Flu and Covid “Twindemic” has hit the NHS. A health chief warned that the number of patients in hospitals in England increased 79 percent in the past week. According to NHS England, an average of 3,746 patients with flu were in hospital across the seven days to December 25, up week on week from 2,088. The number was just 772 at the beginning of the month.
As The Guardian says, the biggest problem is the flu. According to new data, the number of people in hospital with flu has increased by 79% in the past week. An average of 3,746 patients with flu were in hospital across the seven days to December 25, up from 2,088 the previous week. Current data shows that the primary strain of flu circulating in Britain is H3N2. This virus tends to be associated with severe disease, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children and older adults. The current influenza vaccine broadly covers this strain. However, even during seasons when most circulating influenza viruses are well matched to the vaccine strains, vaccination reduces the risk of influenza illness by between 40% and 60%).
NHS is under significant pressureÂ
According to England NHS, Professor Sir Stephen Powis says that the NHS has prepared for winter extensively. It has qualified for winter with more beds, extra call handlers, and the expansion of response services and control centers. Influenza hospitalizations and Covid cases are on the rise. He says that the best thing people can do to protect themselves is to get vaccinated if they are eligible.” Professor Sir Stephen Powis is NHS National Medical Director.
According to Wales Online, Professor Sir Stephen Powis says that the NHS continues to be under significant pressure, with high bed occupancy. Patients medically fit for discharge have taken up more than 12,000 beds. Demand for the 111 service remains high. He asks people to make the most of 111 online and only call 999 or visit A&E in an emergency.
Workforce shortages
Another problem for the NHS is the lack of a workforce. As the Independent says, staff absences due to Covid in hospitals in England have increased by 47 percent in a month. Absences increased from an average of 5,448 a day in the seven days to November 27 to 8,029 last week. The total number of staff off sick was up 20 percent. It increased from 52,556 at the end of November to 63,296 a day last week.
Saffron Cordery says, “Increased staff sickness is another concern. Staff sickness has compounded severe workforce shortages. Saffron Cordery is NHS Providers’ interim chief executive. He added that these latest influenza numbers show our fears of a ‘Twindemic’ have been realised. Cases are up sevenfold in just a month. Covid is hitting staff hard. The related absences were up almost 50 per cent at the end of November.
People are hesitant about and tired of vaccination. Â
According to The Health Foundation, on average, around 30,000 people in the UK die from flu and pneumonia. This means a loss of about 250,000 life years. This is a sixth of the life years lost to COVID-19. According to The Health Foundation, a typical influenza year in Britain has averaged about 28,000 deaths since 2000. With this alarming number of deaths, many people are hesitant about and tired of vaccination.
A study found that nearly a quarter of Britain’s healthcare workers were hesitant about receiving a regular SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. SARS-CoV-2 is a strain of coronavirus. For more details on this study, the reader can see BMC Medicine.
As Politico (September 28, 2022) says, UK public health experts warned that influenza could be a severe health threat this winter. They noted that population immunity is at an all-time low, and people are tired of vaccination after the pandemic. In an average winter without pandemic restrictions, around 11,000 people in Britain die from influenza. He added that health experts are worried that people are tired of multiple vaccinations due to the pandemic. Fewer people are coming forward for flu vaccination.
Final remarkÂ
To sum up, the government did not manage the Covid-19 crisis properly. This mismanagement led to the death of many people in the UK. Moreover, people are tired of vaccination. Even many healthcare workers are hesitant about vaccination. Healthcare workers’ hesitancy about vaccination shows their lack of confidence in the vaccines. This indicates that they do not believe in the effectiveness and safety of vaccination. Moreover, this hesitancy shows healthcare workers’ lack of confidence in officials.
