Flu killed nearly 4,000 people last winter as experts warn of an 'ominous' early start to this season

Age UK is urging older Britons not to be "complacent" after UK Health Security Agency figures revealed flu caused 3,798 excess deaths in England last winter alone. Hospital admissions this September are already running higher than in the same month over each of the past four years, raising fears the coming winter could be worse. Caroline Abrahams of Age UK warned the death toll is a stark reminder flu should "never be dismissed as just a bad cold." Vaccines are available now for flu, Covid-19 and RSV.

England's vaccination programme still prevented an estimated 104,000 hospital admissions and 7,100 deaths last winter, despite adult vaccine efficacy falling to just 21-34%.

The RSV vaccine proved 82% effective at preventing hospitalisations in adults aged 75 to 79, offering strong protection for the oldest and most vulnerable.

Children, who spread flu to older relatives, had higher vaccine effectiveness of 51-68% — making their uptake critical to protecting grandparents this winter.