Public health officials urge older people in the UK to get the flu vaccine after new UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures show nearly 4,000 excess deaths linked to flu last winter in England.
The UKHSA’s annual report estimates excess deaths from flu at 3,798 for the season. Outlets report that these additional deaths are associated with the most common circulating strain. The coverage emphasizes that the situation should be treated seriously, with warnings not to be complacent about seasonal flu and to use available vaccination.
While the outlets differ slightly in wording, they broadly draw from the same UKHSA data and focus on the scale of the estimated impact and the need for preventive action, particularly among older age groups, who are at higher risk of severe illness from influenza.
