UKHSA data shows the influenza vaccine prevented 96,000 to 120,200 hospitalisations in England during last winter.
New data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that the influenza vaccine is estimated to have prevented around 96,000 to 120,200 people from being hospitalised in England last winter.
The figures are encouraging, but immunisation experts say that many more could have been protected if more eligible people took up the free influenza vaccine. UKHSA’s annual figures show contrasting influenza vaccine uptake rates for 2024/25 across eligible groups during a season of high influenza levels.
While this latest annual influenza reports show there were some successes on the delivery of the NHS routine flu programme among the eligible groups, of concern were the decline in uptake among two to three-year olds, primary school, and people with long term health conditions and/or who are immunosuppressed. All of these groups saw uptake below pre-pandemic levels.
However, the figures show record uptake rates among secondary school children (44.6%) - the highest since the secondary schools’ programme was introduced in years 7 to 11. High influenza vaccine uptake was seen once again in those aged 65 and over (74.9%) – just fractionally short of the World Health Organization 75% target.
The 2024/25 influenza season saw high levels of influenza activity with significant impact on the NHS. Today’s report shows:
- the cumulative hospital admission rate was 139.5 per 100,000 – this was higher than in both the 2023 to 2024 season (77.5 per 100,000) and (94.2 per 100,000) in the 2022 to 2023 season
- for excess mortality, there were 7,757 deaths this winter – this is higher than the 3,555 deaths recorded last year but lower than the 2022 to 2023 season (15,867 deaths)
- estimated vaccine effectiveness against primary care influenza attendances ranged from 35% (adults aged 65 and above) to 55% in children
- against hospitalisation, vaccine effectiveness ranged from 38% in adults aged 65 and above to 75% in children aged 2 to 17 years of age.
Dr Suzanna McDonald, National Lead for the Influenza programme at UKHSA said: “Our influenza reports for last winter shows a mixed picture with some successes but also some concerning falls in vaccine uptake. Uptake among secondary school children was at a record high and in the older age group, 65 and over, we almost achieved the World Health Organization 75% target, which we should aim for this year. But many of the more vulnerable who are eligible – young infants, primary school children and people with a long-term health condition and the immunosuppressed - did not get their vaccine, with worryingly low uptakes.”
The initial rise in influenza activity this season was driven by influenza A(H1N1) in children and later increased in elderly age groups. There was limited influenza A(H3N2) activity recorded.
Influenza B activity started to increase in January 2025 in younger age groups and peaked across nations between mid-February and early March but with limited activity in elderly age groups.