Catching flu and Covid-19 at same time almost doubles risk of death

Catching flu at the same time as Covid-19 nearly doubles the risk of death from the virus, Public Health England (PHE) has said.

A new study of hospital patients who contracted both diseases from January to April this year found a 43 per cent mortality rate compared to 23 per in people who caught coronavirus alone.

Although the high death tolls for both cohorts reflects the vulnerable status of those patients, officials are warning that anyone who gets both flu and coronavirus at once could be in "serious trouble".

PHE also highlighted the risk of being hospitalised by influenza and then catching Covid-19 from other patients or staff.

The agency is launching its biggest ever flu vaccination campaign, aiming to make 30 million doses available across the winter. For the first time, all primary school and Year Seven children will be offered the flu nasal spray vaccine in an effort to stop spread between families.

The flu vaccine will also be offered to household contacts of people on the NHS shielded patient list and all health and all social care workers who have direct contact with the people they care for.

Once uptake in the most at-risk groups has been maximised, the newly eligible 50 to 64-year-olds will be invited for vaccination later in the season. Experts have said these lower risk individuals may not be called for a jab for several months.