The NHS has urged millions to get vaccinated as they prepare for a ‘tripledemic’ which could overwhelm the United Kingdom.
Those eligible for Covid and flu jabs have been urged to start getting vaccinated as soon as possible to be protected.
Flu jabs are available for those aged 65 and over from October 3. Those over the age of 65, care home residents, staff, frontline health and social care workers and people in high risk groups are eligible for a Covid autumn booster vaccination.
The NHS warning comes amid fears of a ‘tripledemic’ of Covid, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Michelle Kane, the NHS’s director for vaccinations, said: ‘The flu and Covid-19 vaccines can be life-saving and are our best defences against these viruses.
‘It takes just a few minutes to book online or via the NHS App or 119, so I would urge everyone eligible to do so to protect themselves and people around them.’
This year is the first time the NHS will offer a RSV jab to women from the 28th week of pregnancy, and to older people between 75 and 79.
Ms Kane added: ”We know that these vaccinations help more people keep well and stay out of hospital during the winter months, which is especially important at a time when the NHS is expected to be under a lot of pressure. It is therefore vital that everyone eligible comes forward when invited.’
RSV has symptoms similar to a cold for most, but can make some people seriously unwell with infections of the lungs and respiratory tract.
Babies are at risk of severe illness, as are premature infants, older adults and people with heart and lung disease or a weak immune system.
RSV usually gets better by itself, but in some people it can cause pneumonia (a lung infection) or bronchiolitis (a chest infection affecting babies), which can be life-threatening.
‘The best way to protect yourself is to have the vaccine,’ the government says.
The strain – a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants – was first identified in Germany in June and has so far been detected in 13 countries across three continents.
Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, told the LA Times XEC is ‘just getting started now around the world and here’.
He added: ‘And that’s going to take many weeks, a couple months, before it really takes hold and starts to cause a wave.
‘XEC is definitely taking charge. That does appear to be the next variant. But it’s months off from getting into high levels.
The UK Health Security Agency hasn’t released data on the XEC variant yet.
However, according to the latest figures, there has been a 4.3% increase in Covid cases in the UK week on week.
There were also 102 Covid deaths in England in the week to August 30.
A total of 1,465 patients were admitted to hospitals with Covid in the same week.
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