Health experts are urging the NHS to implement crucial lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic to avert a potentially devastating winter flu season. With cases rising and junior doctors striking, the health service is under intense pressure.
A Three-Pronged Defence Against Influenza
In an article for the BMJ, a trio of leading UK academics propose a clear strategy. They argue for a significant boost in flu vaccine uptake, better support to allow people to stay home when ill, and a major improvement in ventilation and air quality in public spaces and workplaces.
"Many of the lessons we learned during the Covid pandemic about what needs to be done to ease the spread of infection still apply, although we are consistently failing to follow them," write the authors. They warn that without action, "people will continue to get sick and die while schools close and hospitals are overwhelmed."
Vaccine Access and Sick Pay Crucial
The experts, including Professor Stephen Reicher from the University of St Andrews, Professor Martin McKee from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Professor Stephen Griffin from the University of Leeds, call for expanded eligibility for free flu jabs. They also recommend engaging with vaccine-hesitant groups and making vaccinations more accessible in schools and offices.
A critical barrier they highlight is the UK's statutory sick pay. They note that in Germany, workers receive full pay for eight weeks when ill, whereas the UK system offers under £100 a week, with nothing for the first three days. "For most people with Covid or flu, isolation remains more an aspiration than a practical prospect," they state, forcing many to work while sick to survive financially.
Beyond 'Superflu': A Call for Long-Term Thinking
Professor Reicher dismissed talk of a "superflu," calling the term an excuse rather than an explanation. "Respiratory diseases happen every year, and the lessons we had from Covid about how to deal with them in the longer term just haven’t been taken onboard," he said.
The team emphasises that improving ventilation not only cuts virus transmission but also enhances cognitive function and productivity. Reicher criticised political short-termism, advocating for a longer-term perspective to solve recurring public health challenges.
He also stressed the importance of communal responsibility, especially during the festive season. "The last thing you would want to give to a relative as a Christmas present, especially an elderly or vulnerable relative, is the flu," Reicher concluded, urging the government to foster a sense of partnership with the public rather than issuing directives.
