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Seasonal flu update
06/01/2011
The latest figures on seasonal flu have been published today by Health Protection Scotland.
The figures show that vaccine uptake has improved amongst pregnant women who have no other risk factors. Now 32.2 per cent of this group have taken up the offer of vaccination - an increase on last week's figure of 27 per cent. The rate for pregnant women within a risk group is now at 52.2 per cent.
In the drive to raise these numbers further, the Chief Nursing Officer and the Royal College of Midwives will issue a joint letter to all midwives across Scotland today, urging them to encourage pregnant women to come forward and accept the flu vaccine.
The report also shows that:
- A rate of GP consultations for flu-like illness across Scotland of 52 per 100,000, a decrease from last week's figure of 55.8 per 100,000. At this time last year the rate stood at 56.4 and 50.8, but during the pandemic we had seen an earlier peak of activity. A better comparison is with 2008/09 when consultation rates for these two weeks stood at 80.9 and 85.3 respectively.
- This GP consultation rate now reflects normal seasonal influenza activity i.e. greater than 50 consultations per 100,000.
- Highest rates were observed in the under 1s - 186 and 191 per 100,000 population for the previous two weeks respectively. The 1-4 years age group is also high at 251 and 254 per 100,000 population for the previous two weeks respectively. These rates are lower than at this time last year - 321 and 309 per 100,000 population for 0 - 4 year age group. In 2008-09 this was 381 and 445 per 100,000 population for the 0 - 4 year age group.
- The uptake rate for people under the age of 65 who are eligible for the vaccine is now 49 per cent. Amongst those aged 65 and over the rate stands at 71.7 per cent. This is comparable to last year's figures - 49.6 per cent and 71 per cent for eligible under 65s and the over 65s respectively.
- In the last week 38 people with laboratory confirmed influenza have required management in intensive care as a result of severe infection. Six of these people have died. Since the start of the flu season there have been a total of 61 people who have required intensive care treatment and ten deaths. At this time last year, there were 62 deaths however this reflected the peak of pandemic activity earlier in the year and relate to a longer period of flu circulating at higher levels in the community.
- Call demand to NHS 24 for the period December 24 to January 5 was 107,193. this was 86,294 for the same period in 2009/10 and represents an increase of approximately 25 per cent.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:
"The number of people consulting their GP with a flu-like illness in the last week has decreased slightly. These figures are consistent with what we would normally expect at this time of year and remain lower than in other parts of the UK. However, we remain vigilant of the possibility of an increase in the coming weeks.
"One possible factor in keeping flu at bay may be our rising vaccination rates and I am therefore pleased to see a further increase in the number of pregnant women taking up the offer of the jab but I would like to see this figure increase further.
"Midwives across the country are continuing to ensure that all pregnant women know the dangers of seasonal flu and come forward and accept the vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective and midwives are best placed to let pregnant women know how important it is to have it.
"Unfortunately, we have seen a further six people die due to seasonal flu. I continue to urge those eligible to make an appointment with their GP to get the vaccination. The jab is the best way to protect yourself against the virus."
Director of the RCM UK Board for Scotland Gillian Smith said:
"The Royal College of General Practitioners (Scotland), Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists today reinforced and supported the Scottish Government's advice that all pregnant and postnatal women should be offered the seasonal trivalent vaccine.
"Vaccination is the most important way for those at greater risk to protect themselves from flu and this includes pregnant women.
"The dominant flu strain in this 2010/2011 flu season is Influenza A H1N1v and pregnant women are one of the groups most susceptible to severe illness if infected. For this reason, it is important that all those involved in providing maternity care support and facilitate pregnant and recently postnatal women to have the flu vaccine.
"The Royal Colleges urge all professionals, who provide antenatal and maternity care, to ensure that all pregnant women and new mothers have had the opportunity to discuss and be given the trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine. This should be offered irrespective of whether she has received the monovalent H1N1v vaccine.
"Any pregnant woman who has not had the trivalent flu vaccine should contact her midwife or GP to arrange to discuss and have the vaccination.
"The Royal Colleges are agreed that every effort is made to ensure pregnant women are protected against seasonal flu."
This report was produced over the holiday period and should be compared to previous weeks with caution.
During the four day Christmas break (December 25 to 28), NHS 24 staff dealt with 44,343 calls (36,073 in 2009/10). The busiest day of this period was Tuesday December 28 when the service handled 14,503 calls from across Scotland.
During the four day Hogmanay break (January 1 to 4), staff received 48,305 calls (38,087 in 2009/10). The busiest day was Monday January 3 when the service dealt with 15,044 calls.
NHS 24 staff, in partnership with other NHSScotland services, have been working extremely hard dealing with increased call volumes throughout December, initially as a result of adverse weather conditions affecting Scotland, followed by the busiest festive period since the service began.
Given the significant increase in call demand during recent weeks and the levels of upper respiratory, flu and seasonal illness currently circulating in the Scottish population, NHS 24 is enhancing capacity to ensure staff can continue to deliver a high quality service to the public during the coming weeks.
The Scottish Government is re-running the 'Don't let the flu turn on you' TV and radio adverts, designed to encourage those at risk to get the jab. The radio and television adverts first ran in October. The radio adverts began again on December 30 and the television adverts began again on January 3. This activity is also supported by online and PR activity and public health leaflets available from healthcare staff in GP surgeries, pharmacies, health boards and voluntary health organisations.
The groups who are entitled to free seasonal flu vaccinations are:
- Those aged 65 and over
- Anyone under the age of 65 with a medical condition that puts them in an "at risk" group
- Pregnant women
- NHS healthcare staff
- Unpaid carers
The vaccine is available to those eligible from healthcare staff in GP surgeries and they will be invited to attend the practice to get their vaccine. Healthcare staff are usually vaccinated through their occupational health service.
Decisions on who should receive the seasonal flu vaccine are based on recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, an independent panel of experts that provides advice to all UK health departments. The committee constantly reassesses its advice against available evidence and the most recent information.
Every year in Scotland more than one million doses of seasonal flu vaccine are made available to those over 65 and people of any age at risk of complications as a result of flu.