COMMUNITY pharmacies have started their flu vaccination programme amid warnings of a 50 per cent jump in infections as the "fragile" health service continues to struggle with Covid-19.
Last year's lockdown and coronavirus restrictions resulted in "low flu activity" last winter, which medics believe has reduced the `population immunity' against the potentially deadly virus this year.
The 2021 winter vaccination programme is being expanded to help protect those identified as "the most vulnerable" in the community.
It aims to relieve winter pressures on health service during the ongoing pandemic, with community pharmacies offering the vaccine to all adults aged 50 and over and all health and social care workers.
Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Michael McBride, and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Cathy Harrison received their jabs in Belfast today as they officially launched the campaign.
"We expect that there will be circulation of both flu and Covid-19 this winter, which will inevitably add further pressures on our already fragile health care system," Professor McBride said.
He said the return of social mixing and social contact "towards pre-pandemic norms" is expected to see "the first winter in the UK when seasonal flu and other respiratory viruses such as RSV [the most common cause of bronchiolitis in infants] in children will circulate alongside Covid-19".
Professor McBride said scientific modelling indicates the 2021/22 flu season "could be up to 50 per cent larger than typically seen and it is also possible that the 2021 to 2022 influenza season will begin earlier than usual".
He said autumn flu vaccines will be key to "reduce morbidity and mortality... and hospitalisations during a time when the health service may also be managing significant winter outbreaks of Covid-19".
Ms Harrison welcomed the expanded role of community pharmacists, who she described as "highly trained healthcare professionals" who played "a pivotal role delivering health services to communities in Northern Ireland during the pandemic".
More than 143,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in community pharmacies.
This year sees the largest flu vaccination programme ever at the same time as the roll-out of Covid-19 booster jabs.
Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy NI Gerard Greene said "the threat of Covid-19 has made the need for vaccines even more crucial" and urged everyone eligible to contact their local pharmacy team and get their jab.
"It is not just your health you protect when you are vaccinated, it is those most vulnerable in our society and the health service that is already under huge strain."
The vast majority of vaccinations are expected to be given before the end of December.
Details of participating pharmacies are at www.healthandcareni.net/pharmacy_rota/Flu_Vaccinations.html
