'Vaccination is our best defence... get vaccinated now'

HOSPITALS are being hit by a "tidal wave of flu", NHS bosses said yesterday as England's chief medical officer urged people to get vaccinated without delay Professor Sir Chris Whitty warned the illness is "unpleasant for many and life-threatening for some".

- Hanna Geissler

And, with the national booking system for free flu vaccinations closing on Thursday, he said: "Now is the time to get vaccinated if you are eligible."

Sir Chris added: "With the festive season approaching we can still reduce illness, hospitalisations and deaths by increasing vaccination rates - it is our best defence."

An average 1,861 patients with influenza were in hospital every day last week, up nearly 70% from 1,099 last week and 3.5 times higher than the same time last year.

The NHS has coined the term "quad-demic" to describe the combined impact of flu, Covid, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

National medical director Prof Sir Stonhon Pourin Stephen POWIS said: "The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning.