Overview
- An average of 2,660 patients per day were in hospital with flu in England last week, the highest level for this point in winter, as NHS leaders warn of record A&E and ambulance demand.
- UKHSA estimates this season’s vaccine reduces hospital attendance by about 70–75% in children and 30–40% in adults, and health services are urging all eligible people to get vaccinated now and wear masks if symptomatic.
- Experts report no evidence the current H3N2 is intrinsically more severe, with higher admissions largely reflecting an earlier, larger wave driven by seven recent mutations and reduced population immunity.
- Operational pressures are being compounded by workforce risks and uneven staff uptake, with national frontline vaccination at 43.2% and one major hospital reporting 69% coverage.
- Children are driving much transmission while older adults face greater risk of severe outcomes, and guidance emphasizes ventilation, hygiene, staying home when ill, and seeking prompt advice for high‑risk symptoms.