Damian Hinds MP: Getting Your Flu Jab Could Save a Life
As the weather turns colder, new posters in GP surgeries and pharmacies across the country are reminding people to get their flu vaccines. Each year, the NHS launches a major campaign urging the public to protect themselves not only from seasonal flu but also, more recently, from Covid-19.
For many, these illnesses can lead to serious complications and hospital stays, placing additional pressure on NHS services already under strain during the winter months.
Vaccination Rates in Hampshire
In Hampshire, vaccination rates among older adults surpass the national average, with over 65 percent of people aged 65 and above receiving the flu jab. However, uptake among younger children remains lower than expected. Just under 60 percent of Hampshire children aged two to three have been vaccinated — below the World Health Organization’s target of 75 percent.
Children under five continue to experience some of the highest hospital admission rates for flu. Since early October, parents have also been able to get their two- and three-year-olds vaccinated at community pharmacies, a move that could help improve coverage this season.
Vaccination as a Public Health Success
Vaccination stands among modern medicine’s most significant public health achievements, safeguarding lives daily and curbing the spread of infectious diseases globally. The United Kingdom has long held a leading role in this field.
A Reminder from Measles
Once considered eliminated in England, with no reported cases in 2018, measles has since returned. By 2021, England lost its ‘measles elimination status’, with outbreaks spreading across the country.
This serves as a critical reminder that public health progress should never be taken for granted.
Author’s Summary
Regular flu vaccination protects vulnerable groups, relieves NHS strain, and helps preserve hard-won public health gains in the UK.