Flu cases are running at three times last year’s level in parts of England, and the NHS is urging everyone who is eligible to book a jab now. Hospitals in Surrey recorded 35 flu cases in October 2026, compared with 11 in the same month last year, while NHS teams in the East of England say cases there have also tripled.

The early wave has arrived more than a month earlier than usual, and the NHS says the pattern follows the biggest flu season in Australia’s history — often a warning of what is to come in England.

What the figures show

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust reported three times as many winter flu cases in October 2026 as in October 2025. The virus is currently circulating at low levels, but data from previous years suggests monthly cases could reach triple figures by December as winter sets in, adding pressure to emergency departments and intensive care units.

In the East of England, NHS teams have delivered almost 1.75 million flu vaccines since the rollout began (1,740,639). More than three in five care home residents (62.5%) have been protected, and more than 50,000 vaccines have gone to two- and three-year-olds — just over a third (36.8%) of eligible toddlers in the region. Around 400 local pharmacies across the region are offering the jab.

Why the NHS is worried now

Dr Eleanor Powers, head of public health commissioning for immunisations at NHS England – East of England, said: “Flu cases are already triple what they were this time last year and are on the rise in the East of England. So that’s why we are issuing an urgent SOS to those eligible to use the hundreds of thousands of appointments we have running next week to stamp out this early wave of flu.”

Tracy Luckett, Group Chief Nurse at St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, said: “As a nurse, I’ve seen first-hand that flu can be very serious and even deadly — and we’re already seeing more patients needing hospital treatment this winter. I strongly urge anyone who’s eligible to get vaccinated before flu starts spreading more widely.”

Who can get the free jab

The free NHS flu vaccine is available to people aged 65 and over, people aged 18 to 64 with certain long-term health conditions, pregnant women, care home residents and carers, close contacts of people who are immunosuppressed, frontline social care workers, and health and social care staff, as well as children. COVID-19 vaccinations are also available to adults aged 75 and over, older adult care home residents and people who are immunosuppressed, and the RSV vaccine is recommended for pregnant women and older adults.

How to book

Eligible adults can book a flu vaccine through the NHS App, their GP practice, online at nhs.uk/bookflu, or by calling 119, or find a walk-in service through the NHS pharmacy finder. Parents are reminded to complete their child’s school vaccination consent forms, or to book an appointment for two- and three-year-olds, so children are protected before the Christmas holidays. The NHS says the vaccine is still the best defence against flu, and because the virus changes every year, the new vaccine is needed each year to stay protected.

Sources: Greatest Hits Radio; Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.