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| Flu comes early in England, with hospital cases rising | Flu comes early in England, with hospital cases rising |
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| Cases of flu have climbed quickly in the past week in England, suggesting the season has begun earlier than normal, say officials. | Cases of flu have climbed quickly in the past week in England, suggesting the season has begun earlier than normal, say officials. |
| People may have little immunity to flu after a break from the disease during Covid pandemic restrictions. | People may have little immunity to flu after a break from the disease during Covid pandemic restrictions. |
| The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says hospital and ICU admissions for the respiratory disease are rising the fastest in children under five. | The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says hospital and ICU admissions for the respiratory disease are rising the fastest in children under five. |
| Hospital rates are going up among the elderly too. | Hospital rates are going up among the elderly too. |
| It's not clear how big a wave the UK might be in for - levels are still relatively low overall. | It's not clear how big a wave the UK might be in for - levels are still relatively low overall. |
| But health experts are urging anyone who is eligible for a flu shot to get one. | But health experts are urging anyone who is eligible for a flu shot to get one. |
| Many southern hemisphere nations have just had their most rampant influenza season for years and officials have been warning that the UK must prepare for a big, early wave of flu too. | Many southern hemisphere nations have just had their most rampant influenza season for years and officials have been warning that the UK must prepare for a big, early wave of flu too. |
| More than 40 million people in the UK are being offered a flu jab this year. For the first time this includes all secondary school children up to the age of 16. | More than 40 million people in the UK are being offered a flu jab this year. For the first time this includes all secondary school children up to the age of 16. |
| The over-50s and younger adults with health conditions are also being offered a Covid booster jab this autumn and winter. | The over-50s and younger adults with health conditions are also being offered a Covid booster jab this autumn and winter. |
| Vaccination can help prevent people getting very sick. | Vaccination can help prevent people getting very sick. |
| Both shots are recommended for those at higher risk of illness, which includes: | Both shots are recommended for those at higher risk of illness, which includes: |
| everyone over 50 | everyone over 50 |
| pregnant women | pregnant women |
| people with certain underlying health conditions | people with certain underlying health conditions |
| care-home residents | care-home residents |
| front-line health and social care workers | front-line health and social care workers |
| The UKHSA says this year's flu jab is a good match for the type of seasonal influenza that is circulating - a strain called H3N2. | The UKHSA says this year's flu jab is a good match for the type of seasonal influenza that is circulating - a strain called H3N2. |
| In Australia, which had a reasonably severe flu season during its winter, the jab was well matched to that strain. It is the same one that caused a bad flu season for the UK in 2017-18. | In Australia, which had a reasonably severe flu season during its winter, the jab was well matched to that strain. It is the same one that caused a bad flu season for the UK in 2017-18. |
| Covid symptoms: Is it a cold or coronavirus? | Covid symptoms: Is it a cold or coronavirus? |
| Flu jab vital this winter along with Covid vaccine | Flu jab vital this winter along with Covid vaccine |
| How can I get a flu jab? | How can I get a flu jab? |
| Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at the UKHSA, said: "Our latest data shows early signs of the threat we expected to face from flu this season. | Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at the UKHSA, said: "Our latest data shows early signs of the threat we expected to face from flu this season. |
| "We're urging parents in particular not to be caught out as rates of hospitalisations and ICU admissions are currently rising fastest in children under five. This will be a concern for many parents and carers of young children, and we urge them to take up the offer of vaccination for eligible children as soon as possible." | "We're urging parents in particular not to be caught out as rates of hospitalisations and ICU admissions are currently rising fastest in children under five. This will be a concern for many parents and carers of young children, and we urge them to take up the offer of vaccination for eligible children as soon as possible." |
| Experts use several measures to monitor flu, including reporting from GPs and the general public, as well as tests done in hospitals and in other healthcare settings. | |
| In the week ending 16 October, the hospital admission rate for confirmed cases of flu was nearly one per 100,000 people - more than seen in recent years for mid-October, suggesting the flu season has come early. The rate is still relatively low overall. Cases were highest among young children, followed by adults over 85. | In the week ending 16 October, the hospital admission rate for confirmed cases of flu was nearly one per 100,000 people - more than seen in recent years for mid-October, suggesting the flu season has come early. The rate is still relatively low overall. Cases were highest among young children, followed by adults over 85. |
| Meanwhile, Covid cases in the community and in hospitals appear to be stable or decreasing. | Meanwhile, Covid cases in the community and in hospitals appear to be stable or decreasing. |
| Dr Ramsay said: "It's possible that we're already seeing the benefits from so many people taking up their Covid autumn booster in England. Encouragingly, the latest data shows a small decrease in Covid cases and hospitalisation rates over the past week. | Dr Ramsay said: "It's possible that we're already seeing the benefits from so many people taking up their Covid autumn booster in England. Encouragingly, the latest data shows a small decrease in Covid cases and hospitalisation rates over the past week. |
| "There's no room for complacency though, as cases could rise again at any point and we need to be armed in readiness through vaccination of everyone who's eligible." | "There's no room for complacency though, as cases could rise again at any point and we need to be armed in readiness through vaccination of everyone who's eligible." |