UKHSA is strongly encouraging eligible folks from ethnic minority teams, significantly folks from the Pakistani and black Caribbean ethnic teams and people dwelling in additional disadvantaged areas, to e-book their flu and COVID-19 vaccines. This may defend them and their households in opposition to the heightened dangers of those infections throughout winter.

Knowledge from UKHSA‘s report on inequalities in emergency hospital admission charges for influenza and COVID-19 in England, printed yesterday, exhibits that for each COVID-19 and influenza, emergency hospital admission charges had been increased for folks dwelling in probably the most disadvantaged areas when in comparison with folks dwelling within the least disadvantaged areas. For influenza, there have been additionally persistent variations in emergency hospital admission charges between ethnic teams.

In winter 2022 to 2023, for influenza, the Pakistani ethnic group had emergency hospital admissions charges which had been on common 2.7 occasions increased than the white ethnic group. The black, African, Caribbean, or black British ethnic teams had emergency hospital admission charges for influenza which had been on common 1.6 occasions increased than the white ethnic group.

Influenza admission charges had been 2.6 occasions increased and COVID-19 admission charges 2.1 occasions increased for people dwelling in additional disadvantaged areas in comparison with the least disadvantaged.

This report describes inequalities in emergency hospital admission charges. It doesn’t account for underlying elements which will drive variations between teams, subsequently, it would not goal to elucidate why these inequalities exist. From earlier analysis, we all know that the underlying causes of well being inequalities are complicated, with a number of and overlapping elements. This contains the affect of current social and financial inequalities, protection of healthcare interventions, corresponding to vaccination, and pre-existing well being situations.

This evaluation lays the groundwork for additional investigation. There’s a want for nearer examination into the contribution of underlying causes for these dangers over winter. Additional work can be wanted on the supply of interventions, corresponding to vaccination, to alleviate the affect of those infections.

Moreover, this evaluation gives perception for native healthcare programs, together with Built-in Care Boards (ICBs) and Administrators of Public Well being, to think about the relevance of those nationwide findings on the native degree.

Collectively, these findings underscore the pressing want to enhance vaccine protection throughout ethnic teams and ranges of deprivation to cut back the dangers related to each influenza and COVID-19.

Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Immunisation at UKHSA mentioned:

Taking on each the flu and COVID-19 vaccines gives one of the best safety in opposition to the virus this winter.

We proceed to encourage eligible people and teams, particularly these from ethnic minority backgrounds, to get vaccinated in opposition to these preventable ailments.

For the week ending 26 November 2023, though 75.2% of these aged 65 years and over in England had obtained their flu vaccine, simply over a 3rd of these in scientific threat teams; and fewer than a 3rd of pregnant girls had been vaccinated. Over two-thirds of these aged 65 years and over have been vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 through the autumn marketing campaign.

It is necessary to get vaccinated earlier than flu begins to flow into, so we strongly urge everybody who’s eligible to return ahead for vaccination as quickly as attainable.”

Dr Shona Arora, Director of Well being Fairness and Scientific Governance at UKHSA mentioned:

The disparities we have now noticed, with increased hospital admission charges amongst Pakistani and black, African, Caribbean, or black British ethnic teams and people dwelling in additional disadvantaged areas, are regarding.

In case you have been invited to take action, please do e-book your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations by way of the NHS web site, the NHS App, or by dialling 119.

Each vaccines actually may also help to guard you and your loved ones from severe sickness.”

Dr Salman Waqar, GP and President of the British Islamic Medical Affiliation, mentioned:

Our religion encourages us to think about the implications of our actions on the folks round us. That’s the reason we encourage eligible Muslim kids, weak adults, and people over the age of 65 to not delay their resolution to get vaccinated totally free in opposition to COVID-19 and seasonal flu. Please take up this provide to cut back your probabilities of hospitalisation this winter.

We all know many individuals in our neighborhood have spiritual issues in regards to the porcine content material of the kids’s nasal flu spray, however they need to know that the flu injection for each kids and adults is freed from this and will be requested.”

Vaccination is a key preventative intervention for flu and COVID-19. Beforehand printed UKHSA vaccine uptake knowledge exhibits disparities in influenza and COVID-19 vaccine protection. Amongst people aged 65 years and over, solely 55% of the Pakistani ethnic group and 49% of the black Caribbean ethnic group obtained the influenza vaccine in winter 2022 to 2023, in comparison with 84% of the white British group.

Each the flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be given on the similar time. To make sure the best degree of safety, you will need to obtain each vaccines as quickly as attainable to be protected by way of winter. This implies you’re protected when infections flow into extra broadly.

You’ll be able to e-book your COVID-19 and flu vaccination appointment on-line, by downloading the NHS app or by calling 119 when you can not get on-line. You can too e-book your flu vaccine by discovering a neighborhood pharmacy or by way of your GP apply.

With strong UK and international research supporting the superb security profile and benefits of each COVID-19 and flu vaccines, ethnic minority teams shouldn’t delay.