As winter’s chill sweeps across the nation, health experts have urged Brits to brace for a ‘tripledemic’, with a likely uptick in cases of covid, flu, and RSV. Brits are urged to get vaccinated and to be aware of RSV, flu and covid’s symptoms.
According to data from UKHSA, the previous two winters witnessed sky-high figures, with at least 18,000 flu-related deaths and more than 19,500 covid-19 fatalities. December and January are peak flu months, and starting adult vaccinations by October is key to protecting vulnerable groups when indoor gatherings fuel virus transmission.
There are 2.8 million eligible for the covid jab and 4.2 million due flu shots, and the NHS is battling to fend off the ‘tripledemic’ threat this winter. Everyone entitled can now book flu and covid shots as officials push to relieve NHS pressure before freezing temperatures take hold, reports Surrey Live.
Speaking on the winter vaccination programme’s significance, Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu, Regional Director of Commissioning for NHS England, remarked: “The winter vaccination programme offers vital protection to people who need it most. It saves lives, but also it helps the NHS by reducing hospital admissions and easing pressure on services that are already incredibly busy.”
“People with certain long-term health conditions, pregnant women, young infants and older people are among those eligible for some or all of these life-saving vaccines. If invited, please don’t delay – get the vaccines. And if you’re unsure if you’re eligible or have any concerns, please speak with your GP surgery or local pharmacist.”
Influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and covid-19 share similar symptoms. These can include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Due to these overlapping symptoms, it can be challenging to tell these respiratory viral infections apart. To help identify a possible case, healthcare providers might conduct a diagnostic test.
What causes the flu and its symptoms:
The flu is caused by influenza viruses, which are spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Flu usually improves without treatment, but it can lead to serious illness in some individuals.
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
- a sudden high temperature
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get ear pain and appear less active. If you have flu, there are some things you can do to help get better more quickly, including rest and sleep, keeping warm and taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and ease aches and pains. Also drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
What causes the RSV and its symptoms:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of coughs and colds, spread through contact with an infected person’s respiratory droplets or touching contaminated surfaces. The virus enters the body via the eyes, nose or mouth and can be passed on through direct contact, such as handshakes.
While most RSV infections clear up by themselves, they can sometimes pose serious risks for babies and the elderly. Symptoms are usually similar to those of a common cold, but babies with RSV may also become irritable and eat less than usual.
Most people only get cold-like symptoms, such as:
- a runny or blocked nose
- a cough
- sneezing
- tiredness
- a high temperature – signs include your back or chest feeling hotter than usual, sweatiness and shivering (chills)
Babies with RSV may also be irritable and feed less than usual. If RSV leads to a more serious infection (such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis) it may also cause:
- a cough that gets worse
- shortness of breath
- faster breathing or long gaps between breaths
- difficulty feeding (in babies) or loss of appetite
- noisy breathing (wheezing)
- confusion (in older adults)
If RSV leads to a more severe infection like pneumonia or bronchiolitis, it may also cause other symptoms. There’s no specific treatment for RSV; it typically improves on its own in one to two weeks, and home care usually suffices. Drinking plenty of fluids, using saline nose drops and taking painkillers can help alleviate symptoms.
What causes the covid and its symptoms:
On the other hand, Covid-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). This virus spreads through tiny respiratory droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, sings, or even breathes near you.
Covid-19 symptoms can include:
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick
Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Mirror
Covid XEC is the latest strain of coronavirus. It is said to have the same familiar symptoms as other covid variants, including:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose.
With England and Wales experiencing a surge in whooping cough, health bosses have sent out reminder notices about the illness, whose symptoms mimic those of colds and flu. While most people get better within weeks, it takes longer for some and can be graver.
Health advice suggests staying at home and avoiding others if you’ve got symptoms and either feel too unwell for daily tasks or are running a high temperature. Once better, normal activities can resume.
Who is eligible for free jabs?
The NHS says: “Flu vaccines are safe and effective. They’re offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to help protect people at risk of flu and its complications.”
NHS guidelines outline that free flu jabs are available to over-65s, long-term care residents, and clinical risk groups, including essential social care staff and those caring for the elderly or disabled. Pregnant women and children from six months to 18 years with clinical risks are also encouraged to get vaccinated.
Eligibles can arrange their free covid and flu shots via the NHS page, the NHS App, or ringing up 119 at no cost. Plus, the flu vaccine can be administered at local chemists, and walk-ins for the covid jab are an option.
