Reports of a "doom-laden" winter where Britain could be hit hard by an outbreak of flu and Covid-19 are overblown, a top doctor has told GB News.
Dr Laurence Gerlis from Same Day Doctor said the UK would benefit from boosted immune systems, thanks to Covid jabs, which help provide protection against other similar diseases.
He said: "I don't think there's going to be a flu epidemic this winter, and I think that doom-laden prediction is wrong.
"We've all got very good immunity now. If 80% have immunity against Covid now, that would work as a non-specific immune boost against other viruses of a similar nature.
"We will do a flu rollout in September of course. I'm quite sure with Covid on the way out, and no flu epidemic this winter, I'm sure we can have a good Christmas."
It comes after Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said flu could be a “bigger problem” than Covid-19 this winter.
Jim Connell sets up signs at a new walk-through Covid test centre at The Engine Shed, Stirling, which opens to the public today.
Jane Barlow
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that data on whether the flu and Covid-19 jabs could be given at the same time is expected soon.
He added: “Reactogenicity, or how they react with each other, and what sort of side-effect profile that they give when given together, is really important.
“I will emphasise that actually flu could be potentially a bigger problem this winter than Covid.
“We’ve had a very, very low prevalence of flu for the last few years, particularly virtually nil during lockdown, and we do know that when flu has been circulating in very low numbers immunity drops in the population, and it comes back to bite us. So, flu can be really, really important this winter.”
Asked about giving children Covid-19 vaccines, he added: “We need to think very carefully what the benefits are to children themselves and those would be the deliberations we’ll be making in the next few years.”
