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There were 50,000 excess deaths caused by flu in the UK in the 2017/18 flu season.
The current death toll from Covid-19 is 10,000 cases less at 40,000.
The UK did not shut down for flu so why did it shut down for Covid which is less lethal? https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...ll-lowered-to-41-329-after-methodology-change
telegraph.co.uk
Ineffective flu jab blamed as extra winter deaths hit 40-year high
Laura Donnelly, Health Editor 30 November 2018 • 11:15am
6-7 minutes
The number of winter deaths last year the hit highest level in more than 40 years after the failure of last year’s flu jab.
There were an estimated 50,100 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2017/18 - the highest recorded since winter 1975/76, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
The number of excess winter deaths observed in 2017/18 was higher than all years since the 1975/76 winter period, when there were 58,100 extra deaths. The last peak was in 2014/15, when there were 43,850 excess deaths - which was the worst figure since the millennium.
Compared with recent years, excess winter deaths observed in 2017/18 were 45.1 per cent higher than the 2016/17 winter and more than double that seen in 2015/16.
Nick Stripe, head of health analysis and life events at the ONS, said: "The number of excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2017-2018 was the highest recorded since the winter of 1975-1976.
"It is likely that last winter's increase was due to the predominant strain of flu, the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine and below-average winter temperatures."
Last year's flu jab protected just one in 10 pensioners.
The worst protection was among over 65s - the age group most vulnerable to flu - with effectiveness of 10.1 per cent and none at all against some key strains, an evaluation by Public Health England shows. Figures among younger adults were little better at 12.2 per cent, with rates of 26.9 per cent among children, the provisional end-of-season estimates show.
The failings contributed to the worst flu season for seven years, with 15,000 deaths from the virus, around twice the average figure, and the worst NHS performance on record.
Health officials hope to avert such a crisis this winter, with new types of jabs on offer for all adults.
This year adults below the age of 65 eligible for jabs - those with common health problems such as asthma and diabetes - are being offered a vaccine which protects against four key strains of flu, instead of the previous version which protected against three. And pensioners are being offered a boosted jab, found to better protect the elderly.
However, there have been concerns about the lateness of the decision to order the new types of vaccination. As a result, deliveries to GP surgeries have been staggered, with some 40 per cent of stocks only due to arrive this month.
Caroline Abrahams, Age UK's Charity Director, said the new figures were “distressing” with more than nine in 10 excess deaths involving pensioners.
She said: “A toxic cocktail of poor housing, high energy prices and ill health can make winter a dangerous time for many older people, and tragically it is the oldest old and those who are the most vulnerable who particularly suffer the consequences.
“We know such high levels of excess winter deaths are not inevitable. As a country we are not doing enough to ensure our older population stays warm and well warm, well and protected from winter flu throughout the harsh winter months.
“Age UK is urging older people to do everything possible to protect themselves against the threats posed by the winter cold – and it is vital that we pull together and make sure we all help those around us.”
The charity advised all pensioners to have the new boosted jabs this year. It also said patients elderly patients should check eligibility for the pneumonia vaccine. And it urged pensioners to wrap up warm, keep a stocked medicine cabinet of cold and sore throat.
Dr Jenny Harries, deputy medical director at Public Health England said: "The winter of 2017/18 saw an intense flu season and some very cold weather. Such weather particularly affects people who are already vulnerable, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“We are working closely with other public and community health and care systems to advise people how to Stay Well This Winter and we have made new flu vaccines available, including a more effective vaccine for all adults aged 65 and over. We urge all vulnerable groups to take up the offer of the flu vaccine.”
An NHS spokesman said: “The impact of flu is exactly why this winter, people over-65 are being offered the most effective flu jab available anywhere in the world, as part of a record NHS vaccination programme that has made 8.5 million doses available and includes free coverage for care home workers.
“There is still time for people to get vaccinated before the start of the flu season, while frail and elderly people can take common sense steps, like heating their homes, to help them stay well this winter.”
However, there have been concerns about the lateness of the decision to order the new types of vaccination. As a result, deliveries to GP surgeries have been staggered, with some 40 per cent of stocks only due to arrive this month.
Caroline Abrahams, Age UK's Charity Director, said the new figures were “distressing” with more than nine in 10 excess deaths involving pensioners.
She said: “A toxic cocktail of poor housing, high energy prices and ill health can make winter a dangerous time for many older people, and tragically it is the oldest old and those who are the most vulnerable who particularly suffer the consequences.
“We know such high levels of excess winter deaths are not inevitable. As a country we are not doing enough to ensure our older population stays warm and well warm, well & protected from winter flu throughout the harsh winter months.
“Age UK is urging older people to do everything possible to protect themselves against the threats posed by the winter cold – and it is vital that we pull together and make sure we all help those around us.”
The charity advised all pensioners to have the new boosted jabs this year. It also said patients elderly patients should check eligibility for the pneumonia vaccine. And it urged pensioners to wrap up warm, keep a stocked medicine cabinet of cold and sore throat.
The current death toll from Covid-19 is 10,000 cases less at 40,000.
The UK did not shut down for flu so why did it shut down for Covid which is less lethal? https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...ll-lowered-to-41-329-after-methodology-change
telegraph.co.uk
Ineffective flu jab blamed as extra winter deaths hit 40-year high
Laura Donnelly, Health Editor 30 November 2018 • 11:15am
6-7 minutes
The number of winter deaths last year the hit highest level in more than 40 years after the failure of last year’s flu jab.
There were an estimated 50,100 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2017/18 - the highest recorded since winter 1975/76, figures from the Office for National Statistics show.
The number of excess winter deaths observed in 2017/18 was higher than all years since the 1975/76 winter period, when there were 58,100 extra deaths. The last peak was in 2014/15, when there were 43,850 excess deaths - which was the worst figure since the millennium.
Compared with recent years, excess winter deaths observed in 2017/18 were 45.1 per cent higher than the 2016/17 winter and more than double that seen in 2015/16.
Nick Stripe, head of health analysis and life events at the ONS, said: "The number of excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2017-2018 was the highest recorded since the winter of 1975-1976.
"It is likely that last winter's increase was due to the predominant strain of flu, the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine and below-average winter temperatures."
Last year's flu jab protected just one in 10 pensioners.
The worst protection was among over 65s - the age group most vulnerable to flu - with effectiveness of 10.1 per cent and none at all against some key strains, an evaluation by Public Health England shows. Figures among younger adults were little better at 12.2 per cent, with rates of 26.9 per cent among children, the provisional end-of-season estimates show.
The failings contributed to the worst flu season for seven years, with 15,000 deaths from the virus, around twice the average figure, and the worst NHS performance on record.
Health officials hope to avert such a crisis this winter, with new types of jabs on offer for all adults.
This year adults below the age of 65 eligible for jabs - those with common health problems such as asthma and diabetes - are being offered a vaccine which protects against four key strains of flu, instead of the previous version which protected against three. And pensioners are being offered a boosted jab, found to better protect the elderly.
However, there have been concerns about the lateness of the decision to order the new types of vaccination. As a result, deliveries to GP surgeries have been staggered, with some 40 per cent of stocks only due to arrive this month.
Caroline Abrahams, Age UK's Charity Director, said the new figures were “distressing” with more than nine in 10 excess deaths involving pensioners.
She said: “A toxic cocktail of poor housing, high energy prices and ill health can make winter a dangerous time for many older people, and tragically it is the oldest old and those who are the most vulnerable who particularly suffer the consequences.
“We know such high levels of excess winter deaths are not inevitable. As a country we are not doing enough to ensure our older population stays warm and well warm, well and protected from winter flu throughout the harsh winter months.
“Age UK is urging older people to do everything possible to protect themselves against the threats posed by the winter cold – and it is vital that we pull together and make sure we all help those around us.”
The charity advised all pensioners to have the new boosted jabs this year. It also said patients elderly patients should check eligibility for the pneumonia vaccine. And it urged pensioners to wrap up warm, keep a stocked medicine cabinet of cold and sore throat.
Dr Jenny Harries, deputy medical director at Public Health England said: "The winter of 2017/18 saw an intense flu season and some very cold weather. Such weather particularly affects people who are already vulnerable, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“We are working closely with other public and community health and care systems to advise people how to Stay Well This Winter and we have made new flu vaccines available, including a more effective vaccine for all adults aged 65 and over. We urge all vulnerable groups to take up the offer of the flu vaccine.”
An NHS spokesman said: “The impact of flu is exactly why this winter, people over-65 are being offered the most effective flu jab available anywhere in the world, as part of a record NHS vaccination programme that has made 8.5 million doses available and includes free coverage for care home workers.
“There is still time for people to get vaccinated before the start of the flu season, while frail and elderly people can take common sense steps, like heating their homes, to help them stay well this winter.”
However, there have been concerns about the lateness of the decision to order the new types of vaccination. As a result, deliveries to GP surgeries have been staggered, with some 40 per cent of stocks only due to arrive this month.
Caroline Abrahams, Age UK's Charity Director, said the new figures were “distressing” with more than nine in 10 excess deaths involving pensioners.
She said: “A toxic cocktail of poor housing, high energy prices and ill health can make winter a dangerous time for many older people, and tragically it is the oldest old and those who are the most vulnerable who particularly suffer the consequences.
“We know such high levels of excess winter deaths are not inevitable. As a country we are not doing enough to ensure our older population stays warm and well warm, well & protected from winter flu throughout the harsh winter months.
“Age UK is urging older people to do everything possible to protect themselves against the threats posed by the winter cold – and it is vital that we pull together and make sure we all help those around us.”
The charity advised all pensioners to have the new boosted jabs this year. It also said patients elderly patients should check eligibility for the pneumonia vaccine. And it urged pensioners to wrap up warm, keep a stocked medicine cabinet of cold and sore throat.
