The influenza vaccine is estimated by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to have prevented around 96,000 to 120,000 people from being hospitalised in England last winter.
However, the UKHSA’s annual figures show contrasting vaccine uptake rates for 2024-25 across eligible groups, including what have been described as ‘worryingly low uptakes’ within some vulnerable groups.
Flu vaccine uptake in those aged 65 and over was 74.9% – just short of the World Health Organization 75% target.
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The figures also show a record uptake rate of 44.6% among secondary school children – the highest since the secondary schools’ programme was introduced in years 7 to 11.
However, the uptake rate among two- to three-year-olds was 41.7% and 43.5%, compared with 44.1% and 44.6% in the previous season. The rate was also below that seen before the Covid-19 pandemic (43.4% and 44.2%).
It was a similar story among primary school children, with 2019-20 uptake levels of 60.4% outstripping last winter’s 54.5%, along with people with long-term health conditions and/or who are immunosuppressed, 40% of whom took up the vaccine last season compared with the pre-pandemic figure of 44.9%.
Meanwhile, the cumulative hospital admission rate for 2024-25 was 139.5 per 100,000. This was higher than in both 2023-2024 (77.5 per 100,000) and 2022-23 (94.2 per 100,000).
Estimated vaccine effectiveness against primary care influenza attendances ranged from 35% for adults aged 65 and above, to 55% in children. Against hospitalisation, vaccine effectiveness ranged from 38% in adults aged 65 and above, to 75% in children aged 2-17.
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For excess mortality, there were 7,757 deaths last winter – higher than the 3,555 deaths recorded for the season before but lower than the 15,867 deaths in the 2022-23 season.
The number of frontline healthcare workers receiving a flu vaccine this season was 37.8%. UKHSA said this cannot be directly compared to previous seasons due different timings of this season’s occupational health offer, but the previous season saw an uptake of 43.1%.
Caroline Temmink, NHS England director of vaccination, commented: ‘We know there are still too many eligible people who aren’t getting vaccinated and protecting young ones will not only protect them but the whole family.
‘Vaccination remains our strongest defence against flu and that’s why our upcoming Urgent and Emergency Care Plan will include targeted initiatives to boost vaccine uptake – with a focus on healthcare workers, those most vulnerable and children.’
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Dr Suzanna McDonald, national lead for the influenza programme at UKHSA, said: Our flu reports for last winter show a mixed picture with some successes but also some concerning falls in vaccine uptake.
‘Uptake among secondary school children was at a record high and in the older age group, 65 and over, we almost achieved the World Health Organization 75% target. But many of the more vulnerable who are eligible – young infants, primary school children and people with a long-term health condition and the immunosuppressed – did not get their vaccine, with worryingly low uptakes.’
