Surrey County Council has reported an unusually early start to the flu season, with cases increasing nationally, in winter health advice reviewed on 11 September 20261. The council says this makes flu vaccination for all eligible people an important priority to protect against serious illness1.
The council's winter advice page sets out the position in a single sentence:
"An unusually early start to the flu season, with increasing cases nationally, makes flu vaccination for all eligible people an important priority to protect against serious illness."
The page does not give case numbers, regional figures, the groups covered by "eligible people", or a start date for the season. Those details have not been reported in the material published by the council1. The advice sits within a wider winter health page covering being prepared for winter, winter bugs and respiratory illnesses, keeping warm and well, pharmacy advice, NHS 111, winter health and advice for travellers1. The council directs readers to Healthy Surrey's Staying safe and well in winter page for information about the flu vaccination and the related advice1.
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Season pattern | Unusually early start, with increasing cases nationally | 1 |
| Stated priority | Flu vaccination for all eligible people | 1 |
| Date of advice | Reviewed 11 September 2026 | 1 |
| Further information | Healthy Surrey's Staying safe and well in winter page | 1 |
Why it matters for households
The council's advice is addressed to people who are eligible for the flu vaccination, and it frames vaccination as the step that protects against serious illness1. Households in Surrey are the immediate audience for the page, but the council describes the rise in cases as national rather than local1. The page does not set out which groups are eligible, so the practical effect for any particular household is not specified in the published advice1. The council points readers to its Healthy Surrey winter page for vaccination information and for advice on winter bugs and respiratory illnesses, keeping warm and well, pharmacy advice and NHS 1111. The site's guide to vaccines that protect against outbreaks covers flu, COVID-19 and measles, and the health emergencies hub collects the wider material on health incidents.
What happens next
The council page carries a review date of 11 September 2026 and no further scheduled update1. No additional steps, deadlines or local arrangements are set out in the published advice beyond directing readers to the Healthy Surrey winter page1.
Sources (1)
- Keeping well in winter weather - Surrey County Council, surreycc.gov.uk
Vaccines Against Outbreaks
