As the NHS battles to keep a lid on the 'twindemic' of spiralling flu cases and seasonal Covid surge, people are encouraged to do their bit by getting vaccinated.
According to latest figures, the number of patients in hospital in England soared by nearly 80 per cent over the Christmas break.
More than 3,740 people a day were hospitalised with flu in the seven days to December 25, up from more than 2,080 per day in the week before - a staggering increase of 79.4 per cent.
People in hospital with flu has rocketed sevenfold over the past month; with only 520 flu patients hospitalised each day in November.
NHS national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis says: “Sadly, these latest flu numbers show our fears of a twindemic have been realised, with cases up sevenfold in just a month and the continued impact of Covid hitting staff hard, with related absences up almost 50 per cent on the end of November.”
Hospitals run out of oxygen and mortuaries full amid NHS chaosHe added: “It is clear this is no time to be complacent and the risk of serious illness is very real. It is important that everyone eligible comes forward and gets their Covid and flu jabs at the earliest opportunity.”
Yet many entitled to the jabs are still yet to come forward.
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So far, the NHS says around 16 million people have had a covid booster while around 18 million have had a flu jab.
But there's still hundreds of thousands of people at risk - and more likely to become seriously ill - who haven't had the top-ups and may not be aware they have a condition that makes them eligible.
Professor Powis is calling on the public to check whether they or a loved one are entitled to a covid top-up due to an existing condition - and reminding people can self-declare to get their jab through the National Booking Service or their GP.
Anyone eligible for the flu vaccine can get it through their GP surgery, a pharmacy if over 18 and some maternity services if pregnant.
People are able to get the booster because they are considered at risk by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
This includes pregnant women, people who have a learning disability or severe mental illness, or another condition that makes them eligible, such as diabetes, epilepsy, blood cancer and asthma. Other chronic conditions outlined in the government's Green Book (which has the latest information on vaccines and vaccination procedures).
Around 6.4 million people are eligible for the jab due to a medical condition, and while the NHS has now invited everyone, people are also able to self-declare if they think they should have been invited or, for example, because they have only recently become eligible.
Mystic Mag's 2023 predictions include strikes, sleaze, self pity and separationSo far, around 350,000 people have self-declared as being at risk in order to get their jab.
The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who:
People aged 16 years and over:
A severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder