People have been urged to get their flu vaccine in the next two days to ensure a flu-free Christmas and ease pressure on the NHS.

NHS trusts across the UK have issued urgent pleas as cases of the illness hit record levels. A new strain of the seasonal influenza A virus, H3N2 "subclade K" , is driving an unusually early flu season and causing hospital admissions to skyrocket as people have less built-up immunity against it. NHS data released last week showed an average of 1,717 hospital beds occupied by flu patients, including 69 in critical care. This is 56 per cent higher than the same point in 2024 and ten times higher than in 2023.

With the vaccine taking up to 14 days to take full effect, getting jabbed by Thursday, December 11, is key to reducing the number of people seriously unwell on Christmas Day. The UK Health Security Agency lists getting a vaccination first in its list of ways to avoid flu and other respiratory illnesses this winter.

In London, flu hospitalisations are three times higher than this time last year, with an average of 259 patients occupying hospital beds daily from November 24. On Monday, the NHS urged eligible Londoners to get their jab "as a matter of urgency" to "protect themselves against the virus and ease the pressure on NHS staff this winter". The health service added: "With just a couple of weeks left to ensure maximum protection before Christmas, now is the time to act."

Dr. Chris Streather, Chief Medical Director for the NHS in London, said: "The NHS has prepared earlier for winter than ever before, but despite this, we know that surging flu cases, coinciding with industrial action by resident doctors, will put pressure on services in the coming weeks.

"While we’ve vaccinated over 1.8 million people this season*, there are still vulnerable people who haven’t come forward. If you’re in one of the eligible groups and you haven’t had your flu vaccine yet, I urge you to come forward as soon as possible – it’s never too late."

Elsewhere, University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) trust warned people to use A&E only in a "serious or life-threatening emergency" on Monday. Both Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital have declared a "critical incident" after a week of "sustained pressure".

Royal Stoke chief operating officer Katy Thorpe said: "We have taken the difficult decision to declare a critical incident. This helps us to take additional measures to maintain safe services for our patients and those in the community waiting for an ambulance.

"When we're discharging patients, we ask that their friends or loved-ones pick them up from hospital as soon as possible and have everything they need at home. I would like to thank our staff for their ongoing efforts during this extremely challenging period and the public for their understanding and co-operation."

Later on Monday, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which oversees Queen Elizabeth, Heathlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals, also declared a "critical incident" due to "extreme pressures".

The huge surge in infections led Downing Street to suggest that wearing a mask to prevent the spread of respiratory illness is "something people can consider". A No 10 spokesperson said today: "There is long-standing guidance in place for people on a range of measures they can consider taking to help limit the spread of winter bugs if they have flu-like symptoms.

"This is neither new nor an instruction but simply something people can consider when trying to limit the spread of winter respiratory illnesses. It’s been a long-standing position. The best defence against flu is the vaccine , which is why we’re ramping up our vaccination efforts this winter with almost 17 million flu jobs already delivered, which is 350,000 more than this time last year."