Health
NHS aims to give 35m flu jabs amid warnings of up to 60,000 deaths

NHS aims to give 35m flu jabs amid warnings of up to 60,000 deaths
The NHS is to embark on the most ambitious programme of flu jabs in its history amid warnings of up to 60,000 deaths.
The health service aims to immunise a record 35 million people – more than half the UK’s population – against influenza as the country faces its first winter with Covid and flu circulating at the same time.
Experts fear the coming flu season could be particularly deadly because the population will have lost much of its immunity to the virus, which dropped to extremely low levels under Covid restrictions.
With people mixing far more freely than last winter, scientists fear a wave of influenza will coincide with seasonal rises in Covid and other infections such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), creating a “triple whammy” for the NHS.
Modelling from the Academy of Medical Sciences has warned of 15,000 to 60,000 deaths from influenza this winter, making the season more than twice as deadly as an average year.
Health officials said that for the first time, newly trained vaccinators will be allowed to administer the flu shot so that more people than ever before can receive the jab before any winter surge. The training will follow guidance drawn up by the UK Health Security Agency, formerly Public Health England.
A campaign launched on Friday by the Department of Health, the Royal College of GPs, the Royal College of Midwives and other professional bodies urges those eligible to book their free flu jab as soon as possible and take up the Covid booster when invited.
Free flu shots are available for about 30 million frontline health and social care workers, pregnant women, people aged 50 and over, those at clinical risk, and children up to school year 11. In many cases the same people will qualify for Covid boosters, which are given no sooner than six months after the second dose of Covid vaccine. Where possible, vaccination sites will offer both shots at the same appointment.
To date, 1.7 million people in England have received Covid boosters. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended boosters for all over-50s, clinically vulnerable people and frontline health and social care workers. The rollout of Covid vaccines in the UK has saved an estimated 130,000 lives and prevented up to 24.3m infections, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
“Not many people got flu last year because of Covid-19 restrictions, so there isn’t as much natural immunity in our communities as usual. We will see flu circulate this winter; it might be higher than usual and that makes it a significant public health concern,” said Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer.
“Covid-19 will still be circulating and with more people mixing indoors, sadly some increases are possible. For the first time we will have Covid-19 and flu co-circulating. We need to take this seriously and defend ourselves and the NHS by getting the annual flu jab and the Covid-19 booster when called.”
The call for people to take up the vaccinations came as an Opinium survey commissioned by the Cabinet Office revealed that more than a quarter of people (26%) did not know that influenza could be fatal, while nearly a third (32%) were unaware that flu and Covid could circulate at the same time. An average flu season kills about 11,000 people in England.
More than a third (37%) of pregnant women – a group eligible for free flu shots – did not realise they could catch influenza if they had been vaccinated for Covid. Flu jabs can be booked at GP practices or local pharmacies, and pregnant women can request a jab at the local maternity service.
“We are facing a challenging winter but we can all help ourselves and those around us by taking up the Covid-19 booster and flu vaccine if eligible,” said Dr Jenny Harries, the chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency. “Getting vaccinated against both viruses will not only help to protect us and our loved ones but will also help protect the NHS from potential strain this winter.”
Health
Nurses reject NSIWC circular on allowances

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Federal Health Institutions (NANNM-FHI), has rejected a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
The association called it unfair and dismissive of the role of nurses in federal health institutions.
The circular, No. SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, dated June 27 and titled “Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service,” was criticised for excluding nurses from key allowance revisions.
Rising from an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, the association said the circular failed to recognise the important contributions of nurses, who account for between 60 and 70 per cent of the healthcare workforce.
NANNM-FHI President, Nurse Morakinyo-Olajide Rilwan, told journalists that the circular was issued without prior consultation with the association, in spite of its impact on a major segment of healthcare professionals.
He said the document did not address critical allowances due to nurses, including shift, uniform, specialist, call duty, and retention allowances.
“Nurses run intensive shifts, spending extended hours with patients and their relatives. Yet, our current shift allowance is just 8.5 per cent of our salary, despite a 2009 circular approving 30 per cent of basic salary,” Rilwan said.
He added that nurses are required to change uniforms multiple times daily due to the nature of their duties, stressing that uniform allowance should reflect this reality.
“Uniforms are essential, not optional. At a minimum, we need three uniforms a week,” he said.
Rilwan said the selective application of the specialist allowance was discriminatory and unfair to nurses with specialist qualifications.
He noted that nursing includes several specialist cadres who deserve equal treatment.
He called on the Federal Government to prioritise the retention of trained nurses, who are increasingly migrating abroad in search of better conditions
“Nigeria has the nurses, but we are losing them due to poor welfare and policy neglect,” he said.
Rilwan also urged the government to reconstitute the Governing Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, saying it had remained dormant for years.
He added that nurses must also be included in the boards of Federal Health Institutions, as they represent the largest workforce in the sector.
He expressed concern over the removal of nurse educators, especially those on grade levels 7 and 8, from clinical duties, in spite of their role in training student nurses.
“The same circular states that trainers should be paid. Yet, those training others are being sidelined,” he said.
The NANNM-FHI president further demanded internship placements for university-trained nurses to enable them to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), recommending a centralised system to ensure uniformity and quality.
He also called for the creation of a Department of Nursing within the Federal Ministry of Health.
“While we have a Director of Nursing, there is no actual department. There should be directorates for training, statistics, and clinical practice within that framework,” he said.
Rilwan said the association was open to engagement and dialogue with the government and would allow time for an appropriate response.
However, he warned that failure to act could lead to industrial action.
Health
Lagos to begin mandatory health insurance enforcement for residents

The Lagos State Government has vowed to begin the enforcement of compulsory health insurance policy for residents.
A Thursday statement noted that the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr Emmanuel Zamba, said the enforcement would begin in earnest in early 2026, in line with the Executive Order signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in July 2025.
She made this known at the Ilera Eko Providers Forum held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, where key stakeholders across the health insurance value chain, including healthcare providers, health maintenance organisations, and technical partners, gathered to review progress and discuss future implementation strategies.
The order mandates that residents must show evidence of enrolment in a health insurance scheme before accessing public health services, excluding emergencies.
‘We want all residents to be aware and onboard before enforcement begins’, the permanent secretary said, urging residents to embrace the scheme as a financial protection tool.
‘We are finalising our emergency services programme to ensure that no Lagos resident is denied urgent care’.
‘People in emergencies must be treated without first presenting an insurance ID’, Zamba added.
To further strengthen identity management and prevent fraud, Zamba disclosed that LASHMA had partnered with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency to roll out biometric card readers across health facilities.
‘This will eliminate impersonation and ensure only genuine enrollees benefit from the scheme’, she said.
He also highlighted the agency’s expansion into diagnostics, telemedicine, and virtual care initiatives designed to extend access to remote and underserved populations.
‘Even if there is no facility near you, you can dial a toll-free number or use our app for a live consultation with a doctor, 24/7.
‘We have also installed virtual booths in marketplaces to provide health education and consultation services on the go’ he explained.
The Ilera Eko Providers Forum, according to Zamba, is not just a platform for information dissemination but a critical feedback mechanism.
He announced that LASHMA would now host quarterly provider engagement meetings to receive and act on feedback from partners, with a view to improving the scheme’s responsiveness.
‘This is a partnership, and like all successful partnerships, it must be mutually beneficial. We are here to listen, dialogue, and find lasting solutions together’, he said.
The permanent secretary noted that the state currently has over 865 accredited providers, ranging from primary healthcare facilities to specialists in dental and eye care, as well as community pharmacies.
‘Healthcare providers are now the gatekeepers of our scheme’, Zamba said, adding: ‘We are training them not just to offer care but to enrol clients right at their facilities as part of our broader strategy to drive up enrolment figures’.
Zamba revealed that over 400 providers had so far been trained under the newly established Ilera Eko Academy, a platform aimed at equipping providers with the tools and knowledge to actively support enrollment and implementation efforts.
Health
Lagos state govt move to curb activities of unprofessional skincare producers

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to regulate and curb the activities of unqualified practitioners in aesthetic medicine,skincare.
The state Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, disclosed this while speaking at the 19th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of Nigerian Association of Dermatologists (NAD).Travel packages
“We all know that there is an explosion in aesthetic dermatology around the world and it is not peculiar to Lagos.
“As a government, we are very concerned about this trend of unqualified people masquerading themselves as experts in aesthetic dermatology which focuses on skincare.
“These quacks administer a whole lot of treatment options that can be dangerous.
“And so, the regulatory arm of the ministry, Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, is looking into this exploding phenomenal in Lagos.
“We want to work with NAD who are experts to define the limitations of these quacks and ensure they are under close scrutiny by government to ensure residents are not exposed to quackery,” he said
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