NHS left in crisis ‘after vaccine advertising budget cut’ says ex-vaccine secretary

Maggie Trope, who was in charge of the vaccination program until September last year, said: “The message has not reached us and we are seeing the result in numbers in flu and Covid hospitals. the entire NHS.

The Ministry of Health spent £3m promoting flu and Covid vaccinations in the run-up to Christmas, up from £11.5m a year earlier.

In the fall, free flu vaccines were offered to all people over 50, but only 35% of people — about one in three — aged 50 to 64 who are not at risk due to a pre-existing illness, took advantage of the offer. Even among those considered at clinical risk, only 57 percent of people in the 50 to 64 age group received the flu vaccine.

The fall Covid booster campaign began in early September, but by the end of December, only 42% of people aged 50 and 61% of people aged 60 to 64 had been vaccinated.

The figures were released in response to questions from Ms Trope, currently an MP. She said: “There are a lot of flu cases in the hospital and quite a few Covid cases.

“This speaks to the low level of vaccine use, otherwise we would be more protected, which is why I asked questions. Exposure in hospitals affects patients with other conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and so on.

“People think Covid is gone and there is also vaccine fatigue. The flu is also a big problem, and it has always been expected.”

She said health experts had warned ministers last year to expect a spike in flu cases as flu season began in Australia.