Older people urged to get their flu jabs after 4,000 deaths recorded last winter

Older people are being urged to get their flu jab, after statistics showed 4,000 deaths last winter in England were caused by flu.

Charity Age UK is among the organisations encouraging older people to “not get complacent” and make sure they have all the vaccinations they are eligible for.

Figures from the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) annual report suggest excess deaths from flu were 3,798 last winter.

In England, the vaccination programme prevented an estimated 104,000 hospital admissions and 7,100 deaths, the report also found.

This is despite the overall vaccine effectiveness in adults being lower than the previous winter, at 21 to 34%.

In children, who are known to spread flu to older age groups and can become very ill themselves, effectiveness was 51 to 68%.

UKHSA figures also show the RSV vaccine was around 82% effective at preventing hospital admissions among older adults aged 75 to 79.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but can be fatal in older people.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Nearly 4,000 deaths linked to flu in a single winter is a stark reminder that these seasonal viruses should never be dismissed as just a bad cold, particularly in later life.

“The latest evidence shows that vaccination prevented thousands of hospital admissions last winter and helped reduce the pressure on NHS services at one of the busiest times of the year.

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“If you are offered a flu, Covid-19 or RSV vaccination this autumn and winter, we strongly encourage you to take up the opportunity.