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Health officials are urging people with 10 long-term health conditions to "get protected" against flu before December 11. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says it takes two weeks to develop antibodies for flu after the jab, urging those eligible to book their vaccination as soon as possible.

The alert comes as flu levels soar across the UK . The latest NHS figures show an average of 1,717 patients were in a hospital bed every day last week because of flu - the highest on record for this time of year. Cases were 10 times higher than in the same week in 2023 (160), and more than 50 per cent higher than last year (1,098).

Flu hospitalisations have increased by 63 per cent in the past week, with increased indoors socialising over the coming weeks expected to worsen

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