British Flu Shot Rates Lag in 2023

According to the UK Health Security Agency's weekly influenza report, the 2023-2024 flu season vaccination rates vary across age groups.

As of November 23, 2023, the provisional proportion of people in England who have received the 2023 to 2024 influenza vaccine in targeted groups is as follows:

• 75.4% in all aged 65 years and over, and is higher compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
• 36.8% in those aged under 65 years in a clinical risk group, and is lower compared to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
• 37.9% in all aged two years, and is comparable to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season
• 28.2% in all pregnant women is comparable to the equivalent week in the 2022 to 2023 season.

For week #47, multiple indicators show that flu activity has remained stable and within baseline levels in England this week.

Influenza positivity remained stable at 1.8% in week #46 compared to 1.8% in the previous week.

Hospital admissions, including intensive care unit and high dependency unit admissions, remained within baseline levels this week.

Children under five years continue to have the highest hospital admissions, but this has decreased this week to a rate of 0.92 per 100,000 population.

Global flu season news as of November 27, 2023, is posted at Precision Vax.