At least 18,000 deaths in England were associated with flu over the past two winters, figures have revealed, as health experts urge those eligible to take up a free vaccination on the NHS.
The figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) cover the period from October to May in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. Over the same timeframe UKHSA estimates a little more than 19,500 deaths were associated with Covid.
Steve Russell, the NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, said:
“Today’s data showing there were almost 20,000 deaths associated to 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 book their vaccine appointment as soon as they can as it is our best way of protecting those who are vulnerable as winter approaches.”
UKHSA said uptake of the flu vaccine fell last winter compared with the year before across all eligible groups, including the very young, elderly people and pregnant women. Among people aged six months to 65 years with one or more long-term health condition uptake declined from 49.1% in the winter of 2022-2023 to 41.4% in the winter of 2023-2024.
Prof Sir Andrew Pollard of the University of Oxford said influenza is a major risk to older adults, especially those with health conditions, and the frail, and is the most important cause of winter pressures in the NHS.
“Winter is coming. I urge all those eligible to protect themselves and help reduce the burden on our hospitals,” he said.
Alongside UKHSA and the Department of Health and Social Care, the NHS is launching a new campaign called “Get Winter Strong” across various forms of media including TV and radio in a bid to encourage eligible people to take up free vaccinations against winter viruses.
Adam Finn, a professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, said the number of vaccines available on the NHS to protect newborn babies and elderly people from serious winter-time respiratory virus infections is steadily going up.
As well as vaccines to protect against Covid and flu, which are being offered to a number of groups this autumn, vaccinations against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are available for the first time this year for those who are pregnant as well as older adults aged 75-79. Pregnant women are also eligible for vaccination against whooping cough.
But Finn said the challenge is to ensure those eligible actually receive the vaccinations on offer.
“A common debate is whether inadequate and sometimes falling coverage rates are owing to inadequate NHS resourcing for delivery or to growing hesitancy as people are misled by anti-vaccine misinformation,” he said.
“In reality, these two factors are closely related as the most trusted and influential source of good quality information for the target 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 bear fruit.”
Dr Ranee Thakar, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said it is important pregnant women receive such vaccinations.
“It is concerning to see a low uptake of the Covid-19, RSV and flu vaccines, as they give mothers and babies the best protection over the winter against viruses that can cause severe illness,” she said.
“We strongly recommended pregnant women to speak to their healthcare professionals about getting these vaccines, and encourage all maternity and wider NHS staff to recommend and discuss vaccination with pregnant women at every available opportunity.”
