'It's worse than Covid,' says principal as 170 pupils off sick in one day
After 170 students were sick on one day alone, the principal of a County Londonderry school has said it's like "being back in Covid times. Some children had to attend hospital, according to Brian Guthrie of Ebrington Primary School, and a small number of children were admitted for treatment last week. Adult and children in Northern Ireland have more than tripled in the last two weeks than in official estimates, rising from 273 to 944. Mr Guthrie said that classroom assistants at his kindergarten were also absent due to sickness.
Mr Guthrie said on BBC's North West Today programme,It's not just flu; it's been stomach bugs, swollen throats, and illnesses in other ways as well,
it's definitely challenging.It took me back to 2020, to be fair, the attendance was actually worse last week than it would have been at any of the worst times in Covid times.
It was hitting the younger children more at the start of last week, but at the end of the week, we discovered that it was the top of school, our P5-to-P7s, where we were seeing a higher absence rate, but not so much primary one, primary two," he said.The consequences of the high rate of absence, Mr Guthrie said, meant that teachers were not able to engage in new learning in terms of literacy and numeracy.
'Most severe flu outbreak in a decade'
Every winter, seasonal illnesses, such as flu, rise, but experts have forecast that this year's flu season will be the worst in a decade. Young people are particularly vulnerable, and a children's doctor in Belfast said it was the worst influenza outbreak she has seen. According to the most recent data released by the Public Health Agency, under-fives had the largest number of confirmed flu cases in the week ending in November 30th. The highest optimism rate was recorded across the same period five to 14 years old (54 percent). They were therefore unlikely to get the flu, although less of them were tested, and those that were screened were more likely to have the flu. Most children who get the flu will not have to be admitted to hospital, according to PHA Director of Public Health Dr Joanne McClean. If a child needs hospitalization, the likelihood of them needing hospitalization has been reduced by around 70%, according to Sherif. The PHA is responsible for the roll-out of flu vaccines in schools around Northern Ireland, of which there are approximately 1,200 people covered by the scheme. Dr. McClean said that the Nolan Showabout 40 schools in Northern Ireland have yet to be visited by the vaccination program.
she said.The bulk of them will have been to visit by next week,
She found that offering vaccination services in schools is both convenient and guarantees a higher uptake.At the moment, there are several schools that have been postponed due to the Christmas holidays.
'Flu uptake among children disappointing'
According to the PHA's statistics, vaccination rates among children in all age groups remain below 50%. So far, only 1 in 4 preschoolers has had the flu vaccine, though nearly 1 in 3 post-primary children have. Dr McClean said the latest reports are incomplete, but that the rise in school age children's uptake will be similar to last year. I would prefer the uptake was 85-90%.
I'd like if everyone got it,she said.
So, of course i'm disappointing by that.
Who is eligible for a flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is free in Northern Ireland for all children from the age of two to 16. Free vaccinations are also available to people over the age of 65 and over, pregnant women, those with underlying health problems, and care-home residents. Free vaccinations are also available to health and social care workers. Vaccines can be obtained from doctors, community pharmacies, education services, and local Trust clinics. People who are not eligible for free vaccines can also buy them from pharmacies that provide vaccination services. Liam Bradley, a community pharmacist in Derry, said the demand for the flu vaccine this year has risen more than last year.
he said.Every pharmacy is given a set quota of vaccines, and we've used our quoting system in all our branches and we have ordered more,
The vaccine provides people with flu vaccine protection from seven to ten days," he said.While there may be temporary shortages of vaccines as a result of the pharmacies' use of up their quota, the Department of Health will be ensuring that everyone gets the vaccine.
