JERSEY’S health service is bracing itself for an influx of Islanders suffering with flu over the Christmas period.
The Public Health Department said “typically” Jersey’s peaks of the illness come around two weeks after the UK.
Last week, NHS England warned the health service is facing a “worst case scenario” December with a surge of “super flu” as the number of people in hospital with flu increased by more than half in just one week.
Currently, only “a small number” of patients in Jersey’s General Hospital are suffering with flu but there are fears that rates in the Island could follow a similar trajectory to the UK and lead to a seasonal outbreak over the festive period.
“We expect the number of Islanders with flu to rise in the coming weeks,” a spokesperson for Jersey’s Public Health Department said.
In light of a possible outbreak, the department encouraged eligible Islanders to take up the offer of free flu vaccination “as soon as possible” as it can take up to a fortnight to provide full protection, the spokesperson explained.
“Acting promptly is important,” they said.
Public Health also said that practising good personal hygiene is “vital” in reducing the spread of flu.
“Regular handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces all help limit transmission,” the department said.
They also urged Islanders to stay at home if they feel unwell over the festive period, to prevent the spread of the infection and protect others.
In light of rising cases, Public Health also said it is “carefully managing” stock levels of the flu vaccine to ensure sufficient supply.
FACT BOX
Islanders eligible for a free flu vaccination should contact their GP or community pharmacy:
- all individuals aged six months and over in a clinical risk group
- all children aged aged two to four
- school aged children from reception up to year 11
- people aged 65 and over
- pregnant women
- household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- home carers
- care home and domiciliary staff
- frontline Health and Care Jersey staff
