What's interesting is the chart on the website. This 2024 flu season is worse than 2023, and 2023 was worse than 2022. If the "immunity debt" theory was right, this wouldn't be happening. Could all the well documented evidence that covid harms your immune system and makes you more susceptible to other diseases possibly be true? 
Hospitals in England are being hit by a "tidal wave" of flu and other winter viruses, NHS bosses say.
Data released by NHS England showed there were an average of nearly 1,900 beds occupied by flu patients last week – up 70% on the week before.
That is more than three times higher than this time last year, with doctors warning that they are struggling to contain the spread of the virus within hospitals as well as seeing more patients being admitted.
Covid, RSV and the vomiting bug Norovirus are also continuing to cause problems.
Thankfully, for now, it looks like we have a few weeks before covid takes off everywhere in the US, and it won't be as dramatic as the last one because the summer surge was pretty large and their haven't been any new significant mutations showing up in a while.... but the UK is probably a preview for what's about to happen in the US. Whooping cough is going nuts at the moment.
JPweiland forcasts covid waves, and has been remarkable accurate so far.
Reminder that masking works especially well against the flu and other less contagious virus. Always mask in places that vulnerable and high risk people can't avoid!
Yeah if the government recommends it, it should be free. Simple as. Applies to all healthcare.
of course. RCPI are non govt, for what it's worth. not sure what the HSE (health service executive, the govt health body) says. from a cursory look I think I may have been right that they don't recommend everyone get it lol
Lol youre right that's so mickey mouse then.
In the US at least, government policy is usually directly based on recommendations from private/public partnerships involving researchers and clinicians from their respective fields.
Edit: I think I need to clarify that I am aware that these recommendations are not necessarily covered or affordable, and that the government is complicit in this malfeasance. Especially by contracting out 'government' health plans to private entities that have no interest in the welfare of the working class.
yeah, it's just austerity and the overwhelming privatisation of the system at work. the insane debt and stuff isn't quite on the same level in our system, but you pay out of pocket for everything. even if you have insurance it generally won't cover stuff like GP visits (a cool 60 euro every time), dentist, still end up with co-pays for specialists etc.