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 risk, UKHSA says.
Of real concern is the 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.
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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.
‘As winter approaches we see many dangerous viruses circulating in our communities including flu, which tragically can kill thousands of people every year. Getting vaccinated ahead of winter is by far your best defence,’ said Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA Deputy Director of Immunisation. ‘If you’re pregnant or have certain long-term health conditions, you are at greater risk of getting seriously ill. Older people and young infants with flu are also much more likely to get hospitalised.’
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 on the 7 October. 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.
‘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’ said Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening.