Health

Early and rising flu cases prompt urgent vaccination push amid declining coverage

Saturday, 1 November 2025 5:05AM UTC

With the flu season arriving weeks earlier than usual and cases soaring among children, health officials emphasise the importance of early vaccination despite declining uptake, as hospitalisations and community spread increase across the UK.

The chief nursing officer (CNO) has expressed significant concern as the flu season this year has arrived several weeks earlier than usual, with particularly high rates recorded among children and young people. Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that flu cases have risen significantly, increasing from 6.1% to 8.2% across all age groups within a week, predominantly driven by a sharp increase among school-aged children. This rate is notably higher compared to 2.9% at the same time last year. The CNO, Duncan Burton, emphasised the urgency of vaccination, especially since flu circulation in children typically precedes that in adults, which can lead to a longer and more intense flu season. He urged those eligible to get their flu jab promptly to protect themselves and their families from the virus. Flu hospitalisations have also increased, with recent figures showing 2.19 hospitalisations per 100,000 people, up from 1.74 per 100,000 the previous week, resulting in 247 new hospital admissions.

According to Mr Burton, vaccines remain one of the safest and most effective methods to curb the spread of the virus. So far this season, over 12.2 million flu vaccines have been administered, including more than 6.7 million to people aged 65 and over, 1.8 million to school-aged children, and upwards of 366,000 to two- and three-year-olds. Eligible groups have been able to book appointments since 1 September, facilitating early vaccination before the winter's peak. Health officials are calling on all eligible adults to be vaccinated by the end of November to ensure maximum protection during the winter months.

Dr Alex Allen, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, described the situation as an “unusually early start” to the flu season, with the virus now spreading more widely within the community beyond children. The latest data reveals a flu positivity rate of 30.8% among children aged 5 to 14 years, compared to 20% just a week earlier. This rate among school-aged children is twice as high as the general population average of 5.7% compared to 2.5%. Dr Allen warned that those at greater risk of severe flu illness—including older adults, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions—should prioritise vaccination as the best defence against the virus. He also recommended that anyone with flu or Covid symptoms minimise contact with others, practise regular handwashing, and consider wearing face coverings where appropriate.

In response to the rising number of flu cases among children, several vaccination pop-up sites have been established in community locations such as fire stations during school holidays. Furthermore, a new NHS service trial began on 1 October allowing community pharmacies to administer flu vaccines to children aged two and three, aiming to raise vaccination rates in this vulnerable group. However, reports indicate a concerning decline in vaccine coverage overall, particularly among young children and other eligible groups. According to the UKHSA's annual epidemiological report for the 2024–2025 winter season, there has been a decrease in flu vaccine uptake among adults aged 65 and over, individuals with clinical risk factors under 65, and healthcare workers compared to previous seasons. Additionally, vaccination coverage for children aged two and three years remains low, with NHS England Digital figures showing coverage of around 44.4% this season—a slight improvement from last year but still below historic levels and insufficient to curb transmission effectively.

This year also marks the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine into the routine childhood immunisation schedule starting in January, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance disease prevention in children. The UKHSA continues to encourage families and caregivers to ensure children are up to date with all recommended vaccinations to help reduce the burden of preventable illnesses.

With the flu season underway earlier than anticipated and hospital admissions rising, health officials consistently remind the public of the critical importance of vaccination to reduce severe disease and protect vulnerable populations. As Christmas approaches, time is running short to get vaccinated, making early action vital to mitigate what is expected to be a challenging winter ahead.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] Nursing in Practice, ^[2] Gov.uk UKHSA Winter Surveillance Bulletin
Paragraph 2 – ^[1] Nursing in Practice, ^[3] Gov.uk UKHSA Flu Vaccination Call
Paragraph 3 – ^[1] Nursing in Practice, ^[5] Gov.uk UKHSA Flu Data in School Children
Paragraph 4 – ^[1] Nursing in Practice, ^[6] NHS England Digital Immunisation Stats, ^[4] Gov.uk UKHSA Epidemiological Report
Paragraph 5 – ^[1] Nursing in Practice, ^[4] Gov.uk UKHSA Epidemiological Report, ^[6] NHS England Digital Immunisation Stats, ^[7] NHS England Digital Immunisation Stats

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.nursinginpractice.com/clinical/respiratory/cno-shares-concern-as-flu-season-arrives-unusually-early/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-weekly-winter-surveillance-bulletin - The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) released its weekly winter surveillance bulletin, highlighting a significant increase in flu activity among school-aged children. The data indicates a sharp rise in flu cases, suggesting an earlier onset of the flu season. UKHSA urges all eligible groups, including those over 65, pregnant individuals, and those in clinical risk groups, to book their flu vaccination appointments promptly to ensure protection during the winter months.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukhsa-urges-more-people-to-protect-themselves-against-flu - UKHSA is calling on the public to come forward for flu vaccinations, as figures show that many eligible individuals have yet to get the vaccine. With just 27 days until Christmas, time is running out to get vaccinated ahead of the festive season. The latest weekly flu surveillance report shows flu numbers have increased in the past week, with the rates highest among children aged 5 to 14 years.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/influenza-in-the-uk-annual-epidemiological-report-winter-2024-to-2025/influenza-in-the-uk-annual-epidemiological-report-winter-2024-to-2025 - The UKHSA's annual epidemiological report for the winter season 2024 to 2025 provides comprehensive data on influenza vaccination uptake. It reports a decrease in vaccine coverage among adults aged 65 and over, individuals aged 6 months to under 65 years with underlying clinical risk factors, and healthcare workers compared to the previous season. The report also highlights vaccine uptake in children, noting a decline in coverage among 2 and 3-year-olds.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/latest-data-shows-twice-as-much-flu-among-school-children - UKHSA's latest weekly flu surveillance data reveals that flu case numbers are twice as high among school children aged 5 to 14 years compared to the general population. As of 22 October, the influenza positivity rate among school children is 5.7%, compared to a whole population weekly average of 2.5%. All school-aged children up to and including year 11 are eligible for a free nasal spray flu vaccine.
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-immunisation-statistics/england-2023-24/6in-1-vaccine - NHS England Digital's coverage statistics for the 2023-24 season indicate that influenza vaccination coverage among 2 and 3-year-olds was 44.4%, a slight increase from the previous season. However, this represents a decrease compared to earlier years, highlighting a concerning trend in vaccine uptake among young children.
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-immunisation-statistics/england-2022-23/6in-1-vaccine - NHS England Digital's coverage statistics for the 2022-23 season show that influenza vaccination coverage among 2 and 3-year-olds was 43.7%, a decrease from the previous season. This decline underscores the need for increased efforts to encourage vaccination among young children to prevent the spread of flu.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative reports on the early onset of the flu season in the UK, with cases rising significantly among children and young people. Similar reports have appeared in reputable outlets such as Sky News and The Standard, dated 30 October 2025 and 16 October 2025, respectively. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 16 October 2025. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([news.sky.com](https://news.sky.com/story/britons-urged-to-book-jabs-as-flu-season-hits-the-uk-weeks-earlier-than-usual-13460883?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative includes direct quotes from Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, and Dr Alex Allen, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA. A search reveals that these quotes have been used in earlier reports, indicating potential reuse of content. The wording of the quotes varies slightly across sources, suggesting paraphrasing or adaptation. No online matches were found for the exact wording of the quotes, raising the score but flagging them as potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 7

Notes: The narrative originates from Nursing in Practice, a reputable organisation. However, the report includes a link to a UKHSA Winter Surveillance Bulletin, indicating that the narrative is based on a press release. This typically warrants a high freshness score, but the reliance on a single source may limit the breadth of information.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative presents plausible claims about the early onset of the flu season in the UK, supported by data from the UK Health Security Agency. The report includes specific figures, such as the increase in flu cases from 6.1% to 8.2% and the rise in hospitalisations from 1.74 to 2.19 per 100,000 people. The language and tone are consistent with official health communications. However, the report lacks specific factual anchors, such as names of institutions or dates, which could reduce the score and flag it as potentially synthetic.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative reports on the early onset of the flu season in the UK, with cases rising significantly among children and young people. While the content is plausible and supported by data from the UK Health Security Agency, the reliance on a single source and the potential reuse of quotes from earlier reports raise concerns about the originality and freshness of the content. The lack of specific factual anchors further reduces the confidence in the assessment.

Flu season
Vaccination coverage
Public health