Influenza (flu) prevention
Find out more about the flu, including what the symptoms are, how you can prevent it from spreading.
As Flu Season makes an early appearance – AGE UK’s plea to older people to have their Flu Jabs and COVID-19 Boosters
Published on 25 November 2025 11:22 AM
As we head into the winter season, it is more important than ever for older people to protect themselves against serious respiratory illnesses.
Older adults and those with certain medical conditions or illnesses which suppress their immune system are particularly vulnerable to both seasonal flu and COVID-19, and vaccination provides a proven defence and reduces the risk of a bad illness turning into a serious illness.
Flu outbreaks happen every winter but this winter it’s happening earlier. The flu season in Australia[i], which is usually a good predictor of how the flu season here will go, was one of the worst in recent years[ii]. There is a new variant circulating which looks particularly severe[iii], so it is especially important to get your flu vaccine and get it as soon as possible.
Recent data show that influenza (flu) activity in England is increasing. As of 16 November 2025:
- 11.1% of surveillance flu tests were positive compared with 3.9% in the same week (47) the previous year 2024/25[iv] .
- The overall weekly hospital admission rate for flu hospitalisations was 3.37 per 100,000.
- People aged 85+ tend to have the highest hospital admissions for flu. 11.90 per 100,000people aged 85+ in England were admitted for flu. [v]
- People aged 85+ also had the highest hospital admission rate for Covid 19 at 10.97 per 100,000.[vi]
- And last flu season almost 7,800 people died because of flu, and experts are predicting that this year this number could be higher[vii].
By 16 November 2025 one in three (32.3%) people aged over 65 years in England had not yet received the flu vaccination, and 2 in 5 (41.1%) people aged 75 years and over in England had not been vaccinated with an autumn 2025 Covid 19 dose. [viii]
Caroline Abrahams, Age UK Charity Director, said: “Vaccinations are our best defence against these potentially very dangerous viruses and can save lives, so I would urge everyone eligible to come forward for their jabs as soon as they can. You can book appointments with your GP or speak to your pharmacist.
“Although numbers are decreasing since October, Covid-19 is still circulating, and flu poses a threat to older people every winter. Both flu and covid vaccines help protect against the most severe symptoms and although there's still a chance we might catch either virus even after vaccination, the symptoms are likely to be milder and more short-lived.
“Heading into winter, we are worried that an already very difficult situation in and around some A&Es will get even worse. I cannot overstate how important it is that everyone who is eligible receives their vaccinations.”
Why It Matters for Older People
Adults over 65 face a significantly higher risk of severe outcomes from flu, and the flu vaccine has been shown to prevent tens of thousands of hospital admissions in recent seasons[ix].
Last year in England the vaccination is estimated to have prevented around 100,000 hospital admissions due to flu.
What Older People Can Do
- Book your flu vaccine as soon as possible. The flu season is already ramping up and is hitting earlier than usual. You can speak to your GP or pharmacist or book online through the national booking service or by calling 119.
- Check your eligibility for a COVID booster and ensure you take up the offer if you haven’t already. COVID-19 vaccinations are available to adults aged 75 and over, older adult care home residents, and people who are immunosuppressed.
- The NHS also recommends the RSV vaccine to pregnant women and older adults, as well as the pneumococcal vaccine to over 65s, to help protect against serious illnesses that are more common in the winter, like pneumonia. Check with your GP what other vaccines you are eligible for.
- Encourage friends and family - especially those aged 65+ or with underlying health conditions—to get vaccinated too.
- Avoid illness – If other people have symptoms or are unwell it is best to change plans or avoid seeing them until they are better to reduce the spread of all sorts of viruses including flu. If you are unwell staying home to rest and reduce spread where possible.
- Take extra care over hygiene - small things that are easy to forget are important: frequent and good hand washing, catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, wiping down surfaces, not sharing utensils or glasses/cups/water bottles and airing out spaces to help disperse any virus particles can help.
- Wear a mask – You may want to consider wearing a mask if you have to spend time with someone who is unwell, or you are going to places like doctor’s surgeries or hospitals where there are likely to be people who are unwell.
Age UK’s Winter appeal
Winter can be challenging, but for older people, it can feel even harder. That’s why Age UK has launched a new appeal, to shine a light on the Crisis hiding in plain sight and keep services like the Charity’s free and confidential Advice Line and Telephone Friendship Service running. To find out more visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/crisis. Anyone who needs support can call 0800 169 6565.