NHS England issued the call on 9 December 2024, saying flu cases are highest among those aged 5 to 14 and that hospital flu cases are up 350% on the same week last year. The NHS describes the current season as the highest number of cases heading into winter for at least three years.
Latest figures cited by the NHS show an average of 1,099 people in hospital with flu every day in the week before the announcement, compared with 243 in the same week a year earlier. More than 27 million jabs have already been carried out for flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in England. The NHS states that it normally takes about two weeks following a flu jab to offer maximum protection, so those who want protection for Christmas Day get-togethers will need to be jabbed by Wednesday 11 December. Flu season usually peaks in December and January.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director for NHS England, said:
"Flu cases are skyrocketing so it's now or never for older people and children to get themselves jabbed and protected ahead of any family get-togethers they have planned over the festive period."
Booking arrangements and eligibility are set out below.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Booking deadline on the NHS online booking system, NHS App and 119 phone service | End of 19 December for COVID-19 and flu appointments1 |
| Booking after 19 December | Still possible through local NHS vaccination services such as pharmacies or walk-in sites, but there will be fewer COVID-19 appointments and people may need to travel further1 |
| RSV vaccine | Offered for the first time to pregnant women from 28 weeks and to older adults aged 75 to 79; pregnant women are encouraged to book via their maternity service or GP practice and older adults should wait to be invited by the NHS1 |
| Children's flu vaccine | Usually given as a nasal spray without an injection, unless the child cannot have porcine gelatine in medical products, in which case an injected alternative is available1 |
Those currently eligible for a flu vaccine this year, in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, include pregnant women; all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024; primary school aged children from reception to year 6; secondary school aged children from year 7 to year 11; all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18 years; those aged 65 years and over; those aged 18 to under 65 years in clinical risk groups as defined by the Green Book; those in long-stay residential care homes; carers in receipt of carer's allowance or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person; close contacts of immunocompromised individuals; and frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme, including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those who receive direct payments or personal health budgets, such as personal assistants1. All NHS frontline health workers have also been offered the COVID-19 and flu vaccines and encouraged to protect themselves and those they care for1.
Why it matters for households
The practical effect is a deadline. Households wanting flu or COVID-19 appointments through the NHS online booking system, the NHS App or the 119 phone service have until the end of 19 December to book1. After that, the NHS says appointments remain available through local services such as pharmacies and walk-in sites, but with fewer COVID-19 appointments and possibly further travel1. For protection by Christmas Day, the NHS states that vaccination is needed by 11 December, given the roughly two week period for maximum protection1. The NHS advises pregnant women to book the RSV vaccine through their maternity service or GP practice, and older adults aged 75 to 79 to wait to be invited1. The vaccinations guide sets out which vaccines protect against which outbreaks, and the UK Health Security Agency page explains how outbreak alerts and local teams work; the health emergencies hub covers the wider picture.
What happens next
The NHS online booking system, NHS App and 119 phone service close to COVID-19 and flu bookings at the end of 19 December, after which local NHS vaccination services continue to take bookings1. The page carrying the announcement was last updated on 11 December 20241. No further dates have been reported.
Vaccines Against Outbreaks
