NHS England has issued a ‘flu jab SOS’, warning patients to get vaccinated before the worst of the flu season arrives, with 2.4 million appointments available for vaccination this week.
It added that flu cases are triple what they were this time last year, and that Australia had seen the ‘biggest flu season’ in its history, which is ‘often an accurate predictor of what is around the corner for people in England’.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) flu surveillance data found that the weekly mean positivity rate increased from 8.2% in the week commencing 20 October, to 10.9% in the week from 27 October to 2 November. This compares to 2.8% between 28 October and 3 November 2024.
Flu hospitalisations also increased from 2.44 per 100,000 in the week commencing 20 October, to 3.81 per 100,000 in the week of 27 October.
Weekly data from 6 November showed that the NHS had delivered more than 13 million flu vaccines since the rollout began on 1 October.
However, less than a third (28.9%) of people with one or more long-term health conditions have had a flu vaccine.
Around 9 million under 65s in clinical risk groups are eligible, according to the UKHSA, however just 40% were vaccinated in the 2024/25 season. This left around 5 million unprotected.
Public health minister Ashley Dalton said: ‘With flu cases already triple what they were this time last year, I urge everyone eligible to take up one of the 2.4 million appointments available.
‘The vaccine is proven to be safe and help prevent those at risk from getting seriously ill and even hospitalised from flu – so please check your local pharmacy, book an appointment online or by calling 119, or speak to your GP practice today about your winter flu vaccine.’
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director for immunisation at UKHSA added: ‘Every year we see many thousands of people with a long-term health condition being seriously ill in hospital from flu and tragically too many dying, when for many this could be potentially prevented by vaccination.
‘We are concerned that many people at risk may not know they are eligible. Do not wait or delay, book your vaccine appointment today, because flu is spreading now. If you have a long-term health condition speak with your doctor’s surgery to find out more.’
She added: ‘With flu hitting earlier this year I can’t stress enough how important it is to get yourself protected as soon as possible.
‘And for all other groups at increased risk of severe illness and who are also eligible – people aged 65 and over, pregnant women and 2-and-3 year olds – if you’ve not had the flu vaccine, please do not put if off and regret it later.’
Chief executive of NHS Providers, Daniel Elkeles said that it looked like this year would be ‘trickier’ with cases of flu already surging and it ‘likely to get worse’.
‘Flu and other nasty winter bugs wreaked havoc on the NHS last year with wards full to the brim with poorly patients,’ he said.
‘We would urge anyone eligible for a flu vaccination to ‘get jabbed’ to protect themselves and other vulnerable people.’
NHS England has previously warned of a ‘long and drawn out winter’ for the health service.
Early uptake of the flu vaccination this year was higher than the last, with 4.3 million receiving a vaccination in the first week of the programme.
Last year, the NHS went into winter under more pressure than ever, with a large number of flu cases in hospital. Several systems declared critical incidents due to high numbers of patients being admitted to hospital with flu and other respiratory viruses.
Vaccine uptake also lagged last year, with uptake among older eligible patients and younger high-risk groups both falling in the 2024/25 season.
