Latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data show that over the past 2 winters (October to May, 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024) at least 18,000 deaths were associated with flu, despite last winter being a relatively mild flu season.
While pandemic restrictions and social behaviours saw flu levels fall dramatically for a few years, these latest mortality figures are a stark reminder that flu is a deadly virus, particularly for older people and other groups at greatest risk.
There has been a significant drop in the flu vaccine uptake rates last winter across all eligibility groups in England compared with the previous year.
While uptake in older people last year remained high, only 4 in 10 (41%) people with long-term health conditions, just over 4 in 10 (44%) 2- and 3-year-olds, and just 1 in 3 pregnant women received the flu vaccine.
Evidence shows the significant impact from last year’s flu vaccine with a 30% reduction in the number of those aged 65 and over being hospitalised and a 74% reduction in those between 2 and 17 years of age.
In the same two-year winter period, the estimated number of deaths associated with COVID-19 was just over 19,500.
To help reduce the impact of winter viruses on those most at risk, as well as ease NHS winter pressures, UKHSA – with Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England – is set to launch a scaled-up Get Winter Strong campaign today (7 October 2024).
The campaign will urge those eligible to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccination when invited, ahead of winter, targeting those at greatest risk and for the first time will encourage pregnant women to also get their respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and whooping cough vaccination.
Last year saw a sudden increase in the number of people having to be hospitalised, due to a flu peak in the week leading up to Christmas and then again at the end of January.
Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening said: ‘Today’s data showing there were almost 20,000 deaths associated to flu over the past 2 winters is a shocking reminder that this is a seriously dangerous virus.’ He has urged everyone who is eligible to book their vaccine appointment to protect those who are vulnerable as winter approaches.
For the first time this year, pregnant women and older people aged 75 to 79 are also eligible for a RSV vaccination: the maternal vaccine provides strong protection for newborns in their first few months, when they are most at risk of severe illness from RSV.
The Get Winter Strong campaign will run for 10 weeks and will appear on broadcast TV, on demand and community TV, as well as radio channels, outdoor poster sites across England and on social media channels.
See Protecting patients, protecting the health service: seasonal flu update
