At least 18,000 deaths in England have been linked to flu over the past two winters, figures show, as health experts urge those eligible to take a free vaccination from the NHS.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures cover the period from October to May in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. In the same time frame, the UKHSA estimates that just over 19,500 deaths were linked to Covid.
Steve Russell, the NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, said:
“Today’s data showing almost 20,000 deaths from flu over the past two winters is a shocking reminder that this is a seriously dangerous virus, and I urge those who are eligible to make a vaccination appointment as soon as possible as it is our best way to protect those who are vulnerable as winter approaches.”
UKHSA said flu vaccine uptake fell last winter compared to the previous year among all eligible groups, including the very young, the elderly and pregnant women. Among people aged six months to 65 years with one or more long-term health conditions, use fell from 49.1% in the winter of 2022-2023 to 41.4% in the winter of 2023-2024.
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard from the University of Oxford said influenza is a major risk for older adults, especially those with health problems and vulnerable people, and is the main cause of winter pressure in the NHS.
“Winter is coming. “I urge everyone who is eligible to protect themselves and help reduce the burden on our hospitals,” he said.
Together with UKHSA and the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS is launching a new campaign called ‘Get Winter Strong’ across a range of media, including TV and radio, in a bid to encourage eligible people to take up free winter virus vaccinations.
Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, said the number of vaccines available on the NHS to protect newborn babies and the elderly against serious winter infections with respiratory viruses is steadily increasing.
In addition to vaccines to protect against Covid and flu, presented to a number of the groups this fall, vaccinations against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will be available for the first time this year to pregnant women and older adults aged 75 to 79. Pregnant women are also eligible for vaccination against whooping cough.
But Finn said the challenge is ensuring those who are eligible actually receive the vaccinations offered.
“A common debate is whether inadequate and sometimes falling coverage rates are due to insufficient NHS resources for delivery or to growing hesitancy as people are misled by anti-vaccine misinformation,” he said.
“In reality, these two factors are closely linked, as the most trusted and influential source of good quality information for the targeted members of the population are the healthcare professionals who also deliver the vaccines. As the recent review of the NHS recommends investment in primary care and prevention, this is an obvious area where such investment would pay off.”
Dr. Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said it was important that pregnant women receive such vaccinations.
“It is worrying to see the low uptake of the vaccines against Covid-19, RSV and influenza, as they provide the best protection for mothers and babies against viruses that can cause serious illness during winter,” she said.
“We strongly encourage pregnant women to talk to their healthcare professionals about obtaining these vaccines, and encourage all maternity and wider NHS staff to recommend and discuss vaccination with pregnant women at any available occasion.”