Getty ImagesFewer people came forward for their flu vaccine last year and if the same happens again the UK could be in for a worse winter, health officials are warning. There were at least 18,000 flu-related deaths in England over the last couple of years, despite being relatively mild flu seasons, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Free flu vaccinations are offered each year by the NHS to people most at risk from getting very sick with flu, also known as influenza. While uptake among older people in England remained high last year, only one in every three pregnant women got vaccinated. Among people with long-term health conditions, uptake was about four in 10, compared to five in 10 the year before.Vaccinations for two and three-year-olds were at just over four in every 10 getting protected. It follows concerns from NHS England over a possible “tripledemic” of flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).People can catch these common viruses all year round, but flu is especially common in winter. Most make a full recovery from influenza, but it can be serious and even deadly.Some years are worse than others for flu infections and fatalities. In the 2017 to 2018 season, there were 22,500 excess deaths associated with flu. It is not clear how bad this year might be. Northern hemisphere nations, like the UK, look to southern hemisphere ones, like Australia, to predict what could be coming. Australia’s winter flu season looks to be ending and data reveals that cases were relatively high – similar to some recent years. Southern Africa and some countries in South America – Chile, Ecuador, and Uruguay – also had high levels of flu. The vaccine is updated regularly to make sure it is the best possible match, because of the constant evolving nature of influenza viruses.Am I eligible for a free flu vaccine?People are offered a free NHS flu vaccine if they are:aged 65 or olderhave certain long-term health conditionsare pregnantlive in a care homeare the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowancelive with someone who has a weakened immune systemSome people will have already received an invitation, and most eligible adults will be able to get the flu vaccine from 3 OctoberChildren are offered an up-the-nose spray flu vaccine. People can have the flu vaccine at the same time as other jabs such as those for Covid and shingles.It is not usually given at the same time as the RSV vaccine, but you can have them together if a doctor or nurse thinks it is needed.Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA deputy di …
