Vaccination advised as flu cases rise to pre-pandemic levels

Friday, 6 September 2024 08:00

Cases of influenza and flu-like illnesses in Jersey have returned to pre-Covid levels.

Public Health expected the levels to return to those recorded before the pandemic, after dipping from 2020 to 2022.

It believes the rise in cases is not a cause for concern, although the disease itself can be serious and, in some cases. fatal.

Director of Public Health, Professor Peter Bradley says we never know how bad the flu season will be.

"It's a very wise precaution to have your flu vaccination early in the autumn."

Schoolchildren will be offered the vaccine starting at the end of September.

Those aged between two and four, older than 50, pregnant women and people with health conditions will be offered the vaccination from 8 October.

Professor Peter Bradley, Director of Public Health.

Professor Bradley is advising all eligible islanders to protect themselves from illness this winter:

"Influenza is quite a serious disease, you can be really ill with it, and it can lead to being admitted to hospital.

"It's not your general cold. Having your vaccination prevents you from getting a serious illness."

It follows a year of those over 50 years old failing to meet vaccination targets, despite 33,000 islanders taking up the offer.

60% of two to four-year-olds got their jabs, an increase of 8% from 2022 to 2023.

However, people aged 75+ narrowly missed the vaccination expectation of 75%, coming in 1% shy of the target.

Only 29% of 50 to 64-year-olds were vaccinated against influenza from 2023 to 2024, a drop from 47% the year before.

Public Health recorded 30 deaths from the disease.

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