Flu surge exposes missed COVID lessons

Three leading public health and social psychology experts warn that the UK is failing to apply vital lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic as flu cases surge with hospitals facing mounting winter pressures ahead of the planned strike by Resident Doctors.

Writing in the British Medical Journal (Tuesday 16 December), Professors Stephen Reicher from the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews, Martin McKee (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), and Stephen Griffin (University of Leeds) argue that simple, proven measures of vaccination, isolation, and ventilation are being neglected, leaving the public vulnerable as flu spreads across the UK.

The experts call for a layered approach to infection control, combining vaccination, isolation, ventilation, masks, and hygiene.

“There are important differences in who and how flu hits,” said Professor Griffin. “But we trivialise those differences at our peril. The lessons we learnt during COVID still apply.”

Yet uptake of the flu vaccine remains poor. By late November, only 40% of under‑65s at risk had received the jab, compared to 70% of over‑65s, pregnant women, and young children.

“Vaccines aren’t perfect, but at scale they keep schools open and hospitals coping,” Griffin added.

Isolation is another key factor. Many workers cannot afford to stay home when sick. UK statutory sick pay remains under £120 a week, far below Germany’s eight weeks of full salary.

“Telling people to isolate is a suggestion, not a practical response, unless government support is provided,” said Professor McKee.

Ventilation is the third pillar. Despite calls for investment in clean air systems in schools, offices, and public buildings, little has changed.

“We hoped COVID would make clean air central to the 21st century as clean water was to the 20th. That hope has failed,” said Professor Reicher.

The experts stress that winter pressures demand more than individual responsibility.

Governments must institute support measures that make it possible for people to do the right thing.

“The challenge isn’t knowing what to do,” Reicher concluded. “It’s making it possible for everyone to do it. Governments must act to support responsible behaviour, or schools will close, hospitals will be overwhelmed, and lives will be lost.”