Rotherham Council’s Director of Public Health, Ben Anderson, is advising residents to start taking steps to protect themselves from severe illnesses during the autumn and winter period.
This advice comes as Covid-19 infections continue to increase in England.
ONS data from the week ending 10th October 2022 suggests that an estimated 3.56 per cent of the population in Yorkshire and the Humber had Covid-19. This equates to 1 in 30 people.
Ben Anderson said: “The rise in Covid-19 cases is concerning, especially as it coincides with the approach of the flu season which we expect to return to normal levels this year without pandemic restrictions in place. These viruses thrive in the colder climate so it is important that we all take steps to stop illnesses from spreading to our most vulnerable residents.
“Everyone who is eligible should take up their annual flu vaccination as well as getting the autumn booster when they are asked to. These will give you some protection from getting dangerously ill with these diseases. The autumn booster is a new Covid-19 vaccine offering greater protection against more variants than previous vaccines and provides another step forward in our ability to live safely with Covid.
“The success of the vaccine programme has enabled a change in our strategy, providing significant protection from the worst effects of Covid. However, it can still be fatal for some and it remains important to protect the vulnerable from transmission. If you have any symptoms of flu or Covid-19 limiting contact with other people, avoiding close contact and in particular staying away from vulnerable individuals and places such as hospitals or care settings can have a big impact.
“Although the Covid-19 restrictions are no longer in place, we can still use the measures we adopted in the past as best practice to keep ourselves as fit and healthy as possible. It’s simple: wash your hands regularly, keep away from vulnerable relatives if you are ill, and take measures to protect yourself and others. In particular we advise that anyone visiting a hospital, doctors surgery or care home wears a face covering to reduce the chance of inadvertently spreading infection.”
Those who are over the age of 50, are in long-term care, have certain health conditions such as COPD or asthma, or are pregnant are eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine.
If you are eligible for the flu vaccine, it’s likely you will also be eligible for the Covid-19 autumn booster. It's safe to have both vaccines at the same time, but you need to book them separately. Getting both vaccines is important because:
- more people are likely to get flu this winter due to lower exposure rates during the pandemic
- you're more likely to be seriously ill if you get flu and Covid-19 at the same time
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Cllr David Roche, said: “It’s very important that everyone who is eligible for their free flu vaccination and their Covid-19 Autumn Booster gets them as soon as they can. Both of these illnesses can be very dangerous to people who are older, who have underlying health conditions, or work with vulnerable people. Getting your vaccines is a simple and easy way to give yourself extra protection and peace of mind during the winter months.”
Residents who are eligible for their flu or Covid-19 booster can get more information on the NHS website.