Latest data from Public Health England reveal that last winter’s flu activity was ‘low to moderate’ but still had a high impact on hospitalisations and ICU admissions.
The strains in circulation were influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 followed by influenza A(H3N2) in the latter part of the season. The impact of A(H1N1)pdm09 was predominantly seen in the younger age groups (15-44 and 45-64 years) in both GP consultations and hospital and ICU/HDU admissions.
Interim results from six vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies across Europe for the 2018-19 season indicated that VE against laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1) ranged from 32% to 43% among all ages in primary care, and was 59% in the target groups. However, VE against A(H3N2) was low or non-existent.1
Flu vaccine uptake in 2018-19 in England for the 65+ year olds and at risk groups was slightly lower than in the previous season, but uptake for health care workers increased to 70.3%, up from 68.7% in 2017-18. This is the highest level achieved in the programme and one of the best in Europe.
Vaccine uptake in children was at its highest level achieved in the programme, both for school-aged children and two- and three-year-olds offered vaccine in general practice.
In preparation for this year’s campaign, PHE has updated its Flu eLearning programme, available from this month, at https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/flu-immunisation/. The resource is designed to provide all healthcare practitioners involved in delivering the national flu immunisation programme with the knowledge they need to confidently promote high uptake of flu vaccination and effectively deliver the vaccine programme.
Most of the information in the course is relevant for those involved in the flu programme in the other UK countries. However, those undertaking the programme in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales should be aware that some details, such as the age cohorts of children offered the flu vaccine, ordering and reporting of vaccines given etc. may be different. General practice nurses should therefore refer to their country’s annual flu letter so that they are familiar with the details of the flu programme for their country.
1. Kissling E, et al. Eurosurveillance 2019;24(8): ePub 21 Feb 2019
https://eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.1900121
