Damian Hinds MP: Getting your flu jab could save a life
Public health campaigns and flu vaccination efforts
As colder months arrive, posters in GP surgeries and pharmacies urge people to get their flu jab. The NHS runs annual campaigns to encourage vaccination against seasonal flu and Covid-19.
Impact of illnesses on NHS services
Severe cases of flu and Covid-19 can cause complications and hospitalizations, increasing pressure on NHS services that are already strained during winter.
Vaccination rates in Hampshire
In Hampshire, vaccination rates among older adults exceed the national average, with over 65% of those over 65 receiving the flu shot. However, vaccination among younger children remains below the desired level.
Children’s vaccination statistics
- Just under 60% of Hampshire children aged two to three have been vaccinated, below the World Health Organization target of 75%.
- Children under five experience some of the highest flu-related hospitalization rates.
Recent vaccination developments
Since early October, parents can vaccinate their two- and three-year-old children at community pharmacies, which may help improve vaccination rates this season.
The importance of vaccination and recent challenges
Vaccination remains a significant achievement in public health, saving lives and preventing infectious disease transmission worldwide. The UK has historically been a leader in vaccination programs.
Measles, once eliminated in England with no reported cases in 2018, has since re-emerged, and by 2021, the country lost its ‘measles elimination status’ due to outbreaks.
Author's summary
Vaccination is crucial for public health success, but declining coverage and disease resurgence, like measles, threaten progress; encouraging broader vaccination should be prioritized.