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The flu outbreak is expected to spread across all of the Scotland in the coming weeks, the Health Secretary has warned.
SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray has suggested “anyone able to” should pay to receive the flu vaccine if they can amid fears Scotland’s outbreak will “continue to rise over the coming weeks”.
Figures from Public Health Scotland have found that confirmed flu cases have more than doubled in the space of a week to 1,759 cases in the week of November 24 to 30. In the same week, hospital; admissions increased by 70 per cent to 724.
Scots are being urged to receive the flu vaccine as the virus continues to spread. Photo: David Cheskin/PA WireThe worst hit areas so far are Grampian, Glasgow and the south west but Mr Gray has warned it is likely all parts of Scotland will see an increase in cases over the coming weeks.
Mr Gray admitted the situation was “a worry” but follows “a similar trajectory that we saw last year, which was an incredibly challenging year for us with flu”.
He added that “we're seeing that steep rise in both hospitalisations and of people contracting flu”.
Mr Gray added: “That's why the vaccination programme is so important. We started in September, we've now vaccinated over 1.5 million people across Scotland.”
Asked if vaccine uptake was higher this year than has previously been the case, Mr Gray said: “When you compare it, like for, like, yes, it is for those people that are eligible this year, that were eligible last year.
Health Secretary Neil Gray“We have been able to vaccinate more adults, in particular this year, so we have got more of a vaccination cover for those that are eligible.”
During the pandemic, over 50s in Scotland were offered the flu vaccine from health boards, but now the age criteria is for over 65s to receive the vaccine unless you qualify through other factors such as certain medical conditions.
Asked whether over 50s should have been offered the vaccine on the NHS, Mr Gray said: “These are decisions that we take on the expert advice of the Joint Committee of Vaccine and Immunisation (JCBI) on a UK wide basis, and we look at the eligibility that comes from the advice, that comes from the JCBI and that's the basis upon which we have determined this year's flu vaccine eligibility.
“That's not to say that people can't pick up a vaccine elsewhere. That's the health board run vaccination programme.”
Pressed over whether he was suggesting people should pay to receive the vaccine privately if they can afford to, Mr Gray said: “Anybody that's eligible, anyone that's able to, please pick up the vaccine because it's clearly helping to avoid hospitalisation and the most serious of illness.”
A flu vaccine costs around £12 to £15.
Early evidence has shown that this year’s vaccine does a good job preventing severe disease, as measured by hospital admissions due to flu for the strains currently circulating in the UK. Children are around 70 to75 per cent less likely to attend or be admitted to hospital with flu if vaccinated, and adults are around 30 to 40 per cent less likely to attend or be admitted.
The Health Secretary said there was a “different geographic spread” of the virus.
He said: “Glasgow and the west, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, North Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway and Grampian are the worst affected at the moment.
“But I don't expect that to continue to be just those areas that have that profound impact. I expect that to be across the country.”
Mr Gray was asked whether the Scottish Government would consider reintroducing public health advice such as mask wearing if the spread of the virus continues to increase.
He told the BBC: “That will depend on the advice that we get and the spread of the vaccine over time.
“I also don't want to be too alarmist, and I want to make sure that we are protecting health services, but also ensuring members of the public are able to access them, as you say.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie | PAScottish Labour health spokesperson, Jackie Baillie, said: “These latest figures are deeply concerning, with flu cases more than doubling in a week and hospital admissions rising sharply.
“This early surge is placing intense pressure on an NHS that is already struggling.
“We know winter is always a difficult period for our health service, but this increase is happening sooner than expected, putting pressure on staff who are already overstretched and exhausted.”
She added: “It remains vital that everyone who is eligible for a flu vaccination is urged to take it up as soon as possible, to protect themselves and ease the burden on our hospitals.
“However, vaccination alone will not solve the wider problems facing our NHS.
“These figures once again highlight the lack of a credible recovery plan from SNP ministers to tackle staffing shortages, improve capacity and ensure our health service is properly prepared for seasonal pressures.
“With vaccination rates still lagging behind previous years and pressure mounting across Scotland, the Scottish Government must urgently act to support NHS workers and give them the resources they need to provide safe, timely care to patients.”
Mr Gray also stressed that work is under way to ensure ambulances are able to offload patients.
Asked when he can expect the flu outbreak to peak, Mr Gray warned it was “impossible to tell for certain because obviously it depends on how the flow spreads”.
He added: “But at the moment it appears to be following the same trajectory as we saw last year, which saw a short and sharp sudden spike.
“That is happening earlier this year, which is part of the issue that we're facing. But we can expect the continued trajectory to rise over the coming weeks.
“That's why it's so important, the message is absolutely clear. If you are eligible for a flu vaccine, even at this stage, please, whether you're a member of the public or, critically, a member of staff in health and social care, please take up the offer of the vaccine.”
Conservative MSP Dr Sandesh GulhaneDr Sandesh Gulhane, Scottish Conservative health spokesperson, said: "There is huge concern about the rising number of people in hospital with flu-related symptoms.
"We told Neil Gray he needed to expand the vaccination program before peak flu season, and surge resources to the front lines, instead of playing catch-up.
"That's where he is now."He can't even be clear whether the highest risk groups, the most vulnerable elderly and children, have been sufficiently covered with this year's vaccination program."It might be that carers or older people in rural areas haven't had their shots yet, they'll hear this message about potentially paying for the vaccine and be wondering where they stand.
"I expect Neil Gray to clear this up in the Scottish Parliament this week, especially if numbers continue to rise."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Health Secretary did not urge people to pay for the flu vaccine.
“He urged those that are eligible to come forward for vaccination, which includes people 65 years and older, pregnant women and those with certain health conditions.
“Eligibility for flu vaccines is determined on a UK-wide basis by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The flu vaccination programme is focussed on protecting those who are most vulnerable to becoming seriously ill with flu.”