Get your flu jab now, don’t wait for temperatures to drop. That’s the message from health leaders as new data reveals London A&E demand remains high after a summer of extreme heat and record pressure.
After a summer that saw temperatures soar to 40°C and some of the busiest days in NHS history, September brought no respite, with demand showing no sign of easing.
London’s NHS teams faced nearly 433,000 A&E attendances in September, a rise of almost 24,500 on August (an average daily increase of over 1,200) alongside 129,900 ambulance incidents, up around 730 on the previous month (an average daily increase of over 160).
London’s NHS services now brace for the winter months. To help teams cope with this pressure, the NHS urges Londoners to not delay getting their flu jab.
Last winter, flu reached unprecedented levels across England. In London, an average of over 300 beds were occupied by patients with flu each day. Vaccination proved essential – nearly 2.1 million Londoners received the jab, helping to prevent an estimated 104,000 hospital admissions and 7,100 deaths across the country.
Dr Chris Streather, Regional Medical Director for the NHS in London, said:
“It’s easy to think flu is only a problem once winter sets in, but the virus doesn’t wait for cold weather, and neither should you. For some children and pregnant women, it can lead to serious illness or a hospital stay.
“Vaccination takes just a few minutes, yet it offers real protection, both for you and for the people around you who may be more vulnerable to serious illness. Getting it done now means you’re already protected by the time winter pressures and illness really start to bite.
“If you’re pregnant, I’d encourage you to speak to your maternity team, GP or local pharmacy about getting protected. And if your child is eligible, please take up the offer when it’s available, there’s no need to wait.”
Flu viruses change every year, so last year’s jab will not protect Londoners this winter. The vaccine takes around 14 days to become fully effective, so early action means being protected before winter.
London’s Chief Nurse, Karen Bonner, kick-started the capital’s flu vaccination season last week with a walk-in jab at the Crystal Child Development Centre in Croydon. It took just a few minutes, proving how quick and easy it is for Londoners to get protected this winter – over 418,000 Londoners have come forward so far.
Karen Bonner, Chief Nurse for the NHS in London, said:
“I urge all eligible Londoners to get vaccinated by booking an appointment or visiting a walk-in site as soon as possible. Vaccination is the best protection against becoming seriously ill, both for yourself and those around you, and it helps reduce the mounting pressure on the capital’s NHS services this winter.
“Flu is far more serious than a bad cold. Every winter, thousands of children need hospital care because of the virus, while pregnant women are also at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell. Anyone can carry and spread flu without ever showing symptoms themselves, which is why vaccination matters even for those who feel healthy.
“Side effects are typically mild, such as a sore arm or slightly raised temperature for a day or two, and far less severe than flu itself.”
Children are offered the flu vaccine from September, as the virus spreads quickly among younger age groups. Most school-aged children are vaccinated at school, while parents of two- and three-year-olds, or children in a clinical risk group, will be invited to book through their GP. Vaccinating children also helps protect others at greater risk, including babies, grandparents and pregnant women.
Pregnant women can get vaccinated at any stage of pregnancy via their maternity team, GP or a participating pharmacy. The vaccine is also recommended for anyone living with immunosuppression, and for older people, who face a greater risk of serious illness from flu.
Flu kills thousands of people across the country every year, and vaccination remains the best defence. The weather may be mild, but don’t wait to get protected.
Check your eligibility here, and find pharmacies for walk-in vaccination appointments by using the NHS walk-in finder.
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