PublicHealthMatters 
With flu and COVID-19 expected to be in wide circulation together this winter, we are urging more people than ever to get their free flu vaccine, if they are eligible. In this blog we answer some common questions about this year’s flu season. Why are we expecting a difficult winter? This is the first winter … Read more
The Cold Weather Plan for England (CWP) outlines actions and advice for reducing preventable cold weather-related deaths and ill-health. This blog explores how the plan meets the challenge posed by cold weather by planning for and responding to cold temperatures. The challenge of cold weather and winter Every year as temperatures drop over the winter period, … Read more
The COVID-19 vaccination programme for children aged 12-15 years has now started. Thousands of young people across the country have already taken the opportunity to receive their vaccine. This blog answers key questions on the programme. Why do young people aged 12 to 15 years need to get the vaccine? Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection is typically … Read more
I am delighted to announce that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is now fully operational, bringing together the strengths and expertise of Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace. The creation of UKHSA has meant reimagining the country’s health security defences and how we can keep people safe and save lives. Transforming the … Read more
This blog considers the challenges to children’s health this winter, and the ways in which health visitors and school nurses as clinicians and leaders of local services can advise and support families and young people to protect their health as part of the Healthy Child Programme. Supporting families and communities Health visitors and school … Read more
Throughout the pandemic young people have made big sacrifices but thanks to the Covid-19 vaccine programme, which has meant the easing of national restrictions, there is an exciting outlook for the academic year ahead. Here are some important things to know for students starting or returning to university this year: 1) Get both doses of … Read more
Reforms to the public health system announced in March become operational on 1 October. At this point, PHE will transfer its health protection functions into the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and health improvement / healthcare public health functions into the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) and … Read more
After the recent warmer weather and summer of more freedoms, it could be easy to think the pandemic is behind us. London currently has the lowest COVID-19 case rate of any region in England but people are coming back together for autumn with the return of schools, universities and workplaces. While levels of transmission of … Read more
Today we have published the Health Profile for England 2021 report. The Health Profile for England report provides the most comprehensive look at the state of the nation’s health. Like in previous year’s reports, this update looks at a range of population health data, such as smoking and obesity, but it also provides an early summary of … Read more
High blood pressure (or hypertension) is often known as a ‘silent killer’ because most people show no symptoms. If left untreated it can increase the risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Recent evidence shows that it has been linked to more than 8.5 million deaths world-wide and that rates have doubled … Read more