Get vaccinated to stop the spread of common illnesses this winter

The NHS is warning about a potential ‘quad-demic’ of flu, Covid-19, RSV and norovirus.

Flu has already had a significant impact on the NHS in Birmingham and Solihull this winter, with the NHS seeing many more adults and children with flu than this time last year. 

In Birmingham and Solihull, health and care staff have already given over 460,000 vaccinations for flu, COVID-19 and RSV but take up is still someway below the national average. The NHS is urging those who are eligible and have not yet had a vaccine to  book their immunisation today.

Uptake for the flu vaccination is particularly low among for pregnant women and secondary school age children have had the vaccination. There are worries about the low numbers of adults with conditions that place them at risk of getting more poorly from a respiratory illness who have been vaccinated for Covid.

People can now get a Covid vaccination until 31 January and flu vaccinations will continue to be available until the end of March 2025. Across Birmingham and Solihull, there are 158 different sites offering the Covid vaccination while patients can get the flu vaccine in 350 different locations. RSV is available from GPs.

The NHS is also asking people with cold and flu symptoms not to go to A&E, where there are long waiting times. Instead, people should visit their local pharmacist for cold and flu remedies, or call NHS 111 for more information and advice.

Visit the NHS BSOL Immunisations and Vaccinations page for more information about how to get vaccinated.