Call comes as over 4,000 were hospitalised with flu last year This year’s winter vaccination campaign commences on Monday 6 October and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding everyone that respiratory illnesses such as flu, COVID-19 and RSV can be serious, even for some healthy people. Last year 862 children and young people, and 3,158 people aged 18 and over, were hospitalised with influenza in Northern Ireland. Of those 2,922 were as an emergency hospital admission. Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the PHA, is urging everyone in the eligible groups to get ready for winter