Spokesperson: Dr Suzanna McDonald, National Programme Lead for Influenza Immunisation, UK Health Security Agency
“Flu is far more than just a bad cold. It is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly, including sudden onset of fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue that can leave you bedridden for days”
“For those who are at more at risk of serious complications from flu, the NHS offers a free flu vaccination”
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“In England last year, the flu vaccination programme is estimated to have averted around 100,000 hospital admissions due to flu”
During the winter months, the circulation of seasonal viruses such as flu increase and can make people very unwell. There may also be particularly cold spells which could impact your health and wellbeing.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of becoming seriously unwell, so you can enjoy spending time with friends and family.
Flu spreads more easily in winter when we spend more time together indoors. Flu is far more than just a bad cold. It is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly, including sudden onset of fever, severe headaches, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue that can leave you bedridden for days. Colds are much less serious and usually start gradually with a stuffy or runny nose and a sore throat. For those who are more vulnerable, it can increase the risk of developing serious lung and airway infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.
For those who are at more at risk of serious complications from flu, the NHS offers a free flu vaccination. If you are vaccinated in time but still catch flu this winter, you are likely to have milder symptoms and recover faster, cutting your risk of being hospitalised. In England last year, the flu vaccination programme is estimated to have averted around 100,000 hospital admissions due to flu.
Those eligible include adults aged 65 or older, and people with certain long term health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune systems. Those with chronic liver disease, chronic neurological conditions or who are immunosuppressed are at particularly high risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
Pregnant women are eligible to get their vaccines as the pregnant woman herself, the unborn baby and the newborn baby are all at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
Flu tends to spread first in children, so vaccinating children as early as possible helps to protect other vulnerable family members such as grandparents and babies. A quick and painless nasal spray vaccine is available for most in this age group, so you do not have to worry about your little one having a jab. If you have a child aged 2 or 3 (on or before 31 August 2025), they can get their vaccine at their GP surgeries and in some participating pharmacies. School-aged children (from reception to Year 11) will mainly be offered their flu vaccinations at school, so do look out for the consent form which will require your signature. School aged immunisation teams will also offer community clinics.
If you or your children did have the flu vaccine last year, another one will be needed this year as the flu virus can change from one winter to the next and protection from the vaccine goes down with time.
If you are eligible for the flu vaccine, the NHS will usually let you know when you can book an appointment. You can also book via the National Booking System, which opened on 1 September, with most appointments starting from 1 October. Speak to your GP practice if you have not been contacted, but think you are eligible.
You may also be eligible for other vaccinations, including the:
- COVID-19 vaccine (if you’re age 75 or over, resident in a care home for older adults or you are immunosuppressed)
- pneumococcal vaccine (if you’re aged 65 or over)
- RSV vaccine (if you’re pregnant or aged 75 to 79 – if you turned 80 on or after 1 September 2024, you’re also eligible for the vaccine until 31 August 2025)
These vaccinations help protect against serious illnesses that are more common in the winter, including pneumonia.
You can check your eligibility for these vaccines online at http://www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations.
Even if you are not eligible for a vaccine, you can still take measures to protect yourself and loved ones from flu, colds, other respiratory viruses that circulate through the winter months. This includes simple measures like catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, regular handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and opening a window when you are socialising with family and friends.
If you have symptoms such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable. If you have symptoms and need to leave the house, advice remains that you should wear a face covering.
If you have diarrhoea and/or vomiting, do not go to work, school, or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others in that time either. If you are unwell, avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings.
Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also help stop infections from spreading.
Alcohol gels do not kill many types of bugs, including norovirus, so don’t rely on these alone.
If you would like to seek further advice if you are feeling unwell, please speak to your pharmacist who can offer advice on a range of illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections and aches and pains. They can also give advice about medicines, including how to use your medicine, worries about side effects or any other questions you have.
If they cannot help you themselves, they can refer you to a GP or other health professional.
