New data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that the flu vaccine is estimated to have prevented around 96,000 to 120,200 people from being hospitalised in England last winter.
The figures are encouraging, but immunisation experts say that many more could have been protected if more eligible people took up the free flu vaccine. UKHSA’s annual figures show contrasting influenza vaccine uptake rates for 2024/25 across eligible groups during a season of high flu levels.
The annual influenza report shows there were some successes on the delivery of the NHS routine flu programme among the eligible groups; of concern were the decline in uptake among:
- 2 to 3 year olds (41.7% and 43.5%) compared with 44.1% and 44.6% in the previous season – the most recent seasons figures are also below that seen pre-COVID-19 pandemic, 2019 to 2020 (43.4% & 44.2%)
- primary school children (54.5%) compared with pre-pandemic levels in 2019 to 2020 (60.4%)
- people with long term health conditions and/or who are immunosuppressed (40.0%) compared with pre-pandemic (44.9%), 2019 to 2020
However, the figures show record uptake rates among secondary school children (44.6%) - the highest since the secondary schools’ programme was introduced in years 7 to 11, with UKHSA officials urging for a further increase in coming flu seasons.
High flu vaccine uptake was seen once again in those aged 65 and over (74.9%) – just fractionally short of the World Health Organization 75% target.
The 2024/25 flu season saw high levels of flu activity with significant impact on the NHS. Today’s report shows:
- the cumulative hospital admission rate was 139.5 per 100,000 – this was higher than in both the 2023 to 2024 season (77.5 per 100,000) and (94.2 per 100,000) in the 2022 to 2023 season
- for excess mortality, there were 7,757 deaths this winter – this is higher than the 3,555 deaths recorded last year but lower than the 2022 to 2023 season (15,867 deaths)
- estimated vaccine effectiveness against primary care influenza attendances ranged from 35% (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 to 17 years of age
Dr Suzanna McDonald, National Lead for the Influenza programme at UKHSA said: "Our flu reports for last winter shows 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, which we should aim for this year. 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.
"Last winter was a bad flu season, but estimates show vaccination protected as many as 120,200 from being hospitalised. But for many thousands of unvaccinated vulnerable children and adults who ended up seriously ill in hospital, this could have been prevented."
