This content has been developed and paid for by Pfizer UK.
Throughout the challenges of the past few years, everyone – from government to the NHS to the public – has played their part in protecting one another.
Now the UK’s battle with covid-19 is entering a different phase. One where harnessing the successes and learnings from the pandemic, and using all the tools at our disposal, is vital to protecting society’s most vulnerable.
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As we enjoy summer and contend with covid, the healthcare sector knows all too well that winter is ahead.
This year will mark the UK’s first “unlocked” winter since 2019 and that brings new challenges:
- System capacity is precious even as the NHS backlog, totalling more than six million[1], is being tackled.
- The most vulnerable will be at risk from the seasonal peak of vaccine preventable respiratory diseases like flu and pneumococcal pneumonia as well as potential new covid variants.[2] [3]
- Uptake for adult vaccinations in VPRDs and other viruses continues to be unequal across England, which could cause immense pressures in pockets of the country.
The government and NHS are already using the summer to reduce the backlog of patients requiring care. Indeed, the number of patients waiting two or more years for treatment has fallen from 23,778 in January[4] to 2,722 in June[5].
To build on this progress, and safeguard system capacity this winter, this season is our moment to shore up our defences by putting prevention first – the right measures today can protect people and the NHS tomorrow.
As Pfizer’s previous country manager for South Africa, I can say our winters are not as harsh as the UK’s, but the southern hemisphere is entering winter and there is a worrying resurgence of covid-19. In early May*, confirmed cases in South Africa were already up nearly 20 per cent[6] and confirmed deaths had risen by more than 70 per cent[7].
South Africa and the UK both have healthcare challenges, but I believe that vaccines are a cornerstone of preventive healthcare. Even before covid, seasonal vaccinations were key in preparing for winter.[8]
This year, it is vital that vaccination programmes for seasonal diseases are reviewed and maximised to potentially benefit all eligible adults.
Access to and uptake of preventive healthcare measures is an issue in many countries, including South Africa and the UK. A report by Future Health, commissioned and funded by Pfizer UK, assessed the uptake of adult vaccination across England. It found that regions including Manchester, Birmingham, London and Leicester had poor uptake across five adult vaccinations: covid-19, seasonal flu, shingles, pneumococcal and whooping cough in pregnancy. The best performing regions for uptake included North Yorkshire, West Berkshire, Stockport and Bath[9].
The report also unveiled a 12-point-plan that could tackle variations and support the UK in times of challenge like this winter.
This “unlocked” winter is one to be celebrated but one which needs to be prepared for. We at Pfizer are committed to supporting the government and healthcare sector to ensure vaccines and treatments can help the most vulnerable in our communities feel protected. As editors of HSJ and British Medical Journal pointed out in a recent editorial prompted by the heatwave, covid is continuing to have a tremendous impact on the NHS.
Now is the moment to put prevention at the heart of preparedness. By doing so, the government can protect the public and those that need it most, safeguard health system capacity this winter, support staff to bring the backlog down and ensure the NHS remains a world-class institution into the future.
PP-UNP-GBR-1224
Date of prep: July 2022
References:
[1] British Medical Association | June 2022 | NHS backlog data analysis [Online] | [Accessed 22 June 2022]
[2] JCVI | July 2022 | Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) updated statement on the COVID-19 vaccination programme for autumn 2022 [Online] | [Accessed 16 August 2022]
[3] Science Media Centre | July 2022 | Expert reaction to new recommendations from the JCVI that everyone aged 50 and over will be offered a COVID-19 booster and a flu jab this autumn [Online] | [Accessed 16 August 2022]
[4] NHS England | March 2022 | NHS referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times data January 2022 [Online] | [Accessed 30 June 2022]
[5] NHS England | August 2022 | NHS referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times data June 2022 [Online] | [Accessed 12 August 2022]
[6] Our World In Data | May 2022 | Daily new confirmed cases, data recorded 15 May 2022 [Online] | [Accessed 22 June 2022]
[7] Our World In Data | May 2022 | Daily new confirmed deaths, data recorded 15 May 2022 [Online] | [Accessed 22 June 2022]
[8] NHS | November 2019 | How to stay well in winter [Online] | [Accessed 16 August 2022]
[9] Future Health/Pfizer | March 2022 | VacciNation and health inequalities: Tackling variations in adult vaccination uptake in England [Online] | [Accessed 22 June 2022]
*2 May 2022 to 16 May 2022
