Fewer flu vaccinations in Wales are leading to increased hospital pressures as cases rise, raising concerns among health officials.
Wales: So, it turns out that fewer folks are getting their flu shots this year, and that’s causing some serious stress for hospitals. The director of Public Health Wales, Dr. Giri Shankar, pointed out that the number of people vaccinated is down compared to last winter. And guess what? Flu cases are on the rise, which is a bit of a double whammy.
On top of that, there’s also a spike in norovirus cases, which is that nasty winter vomiting bug. Dr. Shankar mentioned that the NHS is seeing a significant uptick in seasonal respiratory viruses, especially flu. He’s pretty worried about it, saying that vaccination is the best way to protect ourselves.
It’s a bit concerning, really. The flu jab uptake among people over 65 is below 70%, and for health workers, it’s even lower at 27%. That’s down from 33% last year! This could mean more staff getting sick and putting even more pressure on the healthcare system.
And just to add to the mix, norovirus cases jumped by 26% right before Christmas. Parents are being told to keep their kids home from school if they’re showing symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea. It’s a tough time for everyone, and the hospitals are feeling it.
By the end of December, there were around 900 patients in hospitals with flu, COVID, or RSV, which is a 50% increase from last year. It’s a lot to handle, and with 5% of all hospital patients having flu, it’s clear we need to step up our vaccination game.
