COVID-19, Flu, Measles, H5N1 Avian Flu and other virus UK Health and World News Update 31st October 2025

COVID-19, Flu, Measles,  and other virus UK Health and World News Update 31st October 2025

Happy Halloween! 

"If you mean was Covid a disaster? Yes.

Was the loss of education a disaster? Yes.

Was the loss of exams a disaster? Yes.

Was the disappointment, anger, frustration of a large number of kids - the additional frustration - a disaster? Yes it was.

"But it has to be seen in the context of us trying to deal with a much, much bigger disaster"

Boris Johnson, ex- UK PM at the UK COVID Inquiry, with possibly the clearest thing he's ever said. 

The UK's early Autumn COVID wave has ended. Hurrah! Activity has "decreased and is now circulating at baseline levels" according to the UK HSA. Good job really, as flu is hitting pretty hard, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus, which causes coughs and sometimes pneumonia and bronchiolitis) is showing 'mixed activity'. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Flu, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Tropical Diseases and other virus UK and World News Update 17th October 2025

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Flu, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles, Vaccination and other virus UK and World News Update 17th October 2025

The UK Government and NHS have caused a nightmare for Pharmacists by massively reducing the number of people who are eligible for an NHS COVID jab, and then allowing ineligible people to book an appointment anyway. The National Pharmacy Association were quoted last week as saying their members were reporting around 1/3 to 1/2 of all COVID jab bookings were people who they aren't authorised to vaccinate.

NHS England say they've fixed the online booking system now, but literally millions of people who had Winter COVID and flu boosters last year are only eligible for flu this time, and eligibility for flu jabs has been widened, which has only made the problem worse. For reference...

NHS flu jabs for Autumn/Winter 2025 are offered if you: 

- are aged 65 or over by 31 March 2026

- have certain long-term health conditions (list online)

- are pregnant

- live in a care home

- are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer's allowance

- live with someone who has a weakened immune system

(Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.)

NHS COVID boosters for Autumn/Winter 2025 are offered if you:

- are aged 75 or over by 31 January 2026

- are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment (list online)

- live in a care home for older adults

It's no wonder there's confusion. Millions of people have previously been eligible due to age, and now aren't, despite not getting any younger. Please don't take it out on the Pharmacist, it wasn't their decision. Private jabs cost around £100 each. 

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Other Virus, Vaccination and Health UK and World News Update 3rd October 2025 (Featuring Autism and Tylenol)

COVID-19 Coronavirus, Other Virus and Health UK and World News Update 3rd October 2025

In the UK COVID cases are still on the rise, we haven’t hit the peak yet. RCGP Sentinel Surveillance of around 2,000 GP surgeries in England suggests cases are up around 20% in the latest week (week ending 28th September) and UK HSA data confirms, showing a rise of 22.2% in the week ending 24th September. Looking at the charts, allowing for lags in data, it's probably on a par with where we were this time last year. Stratus (the XFG and XFG.3 variants) and Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) are being given the blame, Stratus accounted for around 2/3 of cases last month.

Online reports say Stratos includes a hoarse voice. Presumably can confirm. I've had hardly any sore throat, but I've spent over 2 weeks out of the last 3 1/2 croaking, and I still don't have my voice back properly, despite feeling a lot better and a negative test finally (hurrah!).