LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) – Britain’s health officials warned on Friday that a raging flu outbreak and a resurgence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could lead to a harsh winter.

Warnings of possible COVID-19 and flu “storms” have been issued each winter since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020, but COVID-19 restrictions limiting social contact have kept the flu at bay. levels remained low.

However, the government ended coronavirus restrictions earlier this year. This means that while immunity to influenza is relatively low, social contact rates have returned to near pre-pandemic standards.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was important that eligible people were vaccinated against COVID and influenza given the risks.

Susan Hopkins, UKHSA Chief Medical Advisor, said: “There have been widespread influenza epidemics, lower levels of natural immunity due to reduced exposure over the past three winters, and an increase in COVID-19 epidemics. There are strong indications that you may be facing a threat.

There are signs that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are starting to rise after the summer dip, and Hopkins said many variants now circulating may evade immune responses to some extent.

About 33 million people will be eligible for a free flu vaccine this year and 26 million will be eligible for a COVID-19 booster. Elderly and clinically vulnerable people are both eligible, and young children can be vaccinated against influenza.

If concerns about the so-called twindemic come to fruition, it will increase the pressure on Britain’s already expanding hospitals, which are bidding to catch up on delayed procedures during the pandemic and are suffering from a staff crisis.

Labor leader Keir Sturmer said on Tuesday he was genuinely concerned about how many lives were at risk this winter given the strain on the NHS.

Reported by Alistair Smout.Edited by William James

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