EXCLUSIVE: Flu warning as worrying new data shows UK braced for worst season in years
Australia is going through its worst winter flu season for seven years - with Britain expected to face the same as temperatures start to drop
Worrying new data shows Britain is braced for the worst flu season in years as temperatures start to drop.
Latest winter data from Australia shows it is going through its worst flu season for seven years. Rates Down Under usually predict infections set to hit the UK from our Autumn onwards. NHS booking systems opened from Wednesday for over-65s, carers and pregnant women to book their flu jabs and experts are urging all eligible to get vaccinated.
Dr Ranbir Bahra, medical affairs lead at biotech company CSL Seqirus said: “Last year was one of the most severe flu seasons in recent history.
“If our infection rates follow what Australia has experienced this year, then we could be facing a critical challenge as we head into the winter months. We need to do everything we can to protect not only our most vulnerable loved ones, but also the NHS and our wider communities.”
The Australian Government's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System shows there were 360,471 laboratory-confirmed flu cases during their flu season up to September 15. This is six times higher than the 58,869 cases in 2018.
While Australia reported 365,590 cases in the 2024 flu season, with this year’s season still under way, it is likely this year will surpass that to become one of the worst in recent history.
It added that the flu surge is continuing later than usual, driven by cases in under-18s. There are higher rates of influenza B than previous years, particularly in children.
The report is worrying NHS leaders who fear hospitals will be filled with flu patients this winter at the same time as they face potential strikes from doctors and nurses.
In the UK the vaccination programme has been delayed this year to maximise the protections jabs offer at the height of the flu season, in December and January.
Dr Bahra, of CSL Seqirus, which develops vaccines, added: “The annual vaccination programme is now open, and we would urge that everyone eligible to receive a flu jab gets one. This is a simple step but one which can have a huge impact, helping reduce the risk of severe illness and the potentially deadly consequences of this virus.
“We would particularly encourage parents to ensure their children take up the free vaccination in schools – which is usually a nasal vaccine rather than injection – and for those caring for the elderly or vulnerable to also make getting a jab a priority.” In the 2023/24 season, just 32.7% of eligible carers had a vaccine.
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Vaccinations are available from GPs and community pharmacies and can be booked on the NHS online booking portal.
Bookings opened on October 1 for the following groups eligible to receive a flu vaccine on the NHS this season:
- Adults aged 65 and over
- Pregnant women
- People with certain long-term health conditions
- Children aged 2–16 (via nasal spray in most cases)
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Carers in receipt of carer's allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person