The NHS in North East and Yorkshire is urging eligible adults to get their flu vaccine now, as the region braces for an early and intense flu season with cases already triple those seen this time last year.

In response, the health service in the North East and Yorkshire is making nearly 350,000 vaccination slots available next week.

The region’s NHS is calling those eligible to act as soon as possible to stamp out the current wave of flu hitting the NHS more than a month earlier this year, with cases triple the same time last year.

It follows the biggest flu season in Australia’s history – often an accurate predictor of what is around the corner for people in England.

The latest data shows NHS teams across the North East and Yorkshire have now delivered more than 2.1 million flu vaccines since the rollout kicked off (2,142,739).

Nearly two-thirds of the region’s care home residents (63.1%) have now been protected against flu, thanks to the efforts of hardworking teams who have coordinated in-house vaccinations and brought jabs closer to home through mobile buses and local community pop-ups.

Across England, 2.3 million flu vaccines have been delivered to eligible children including 400,000 two- and three-year-olds – only a third of all toddlers who are eligible (33.4%) – despite the NHS making it easier than ever for parents to get their young children vaccinated in local supermarkets and on the high street by rolling out the vaccine to nearly 4,000 local pharmacies.

Most children who are eligible for a flu vaccine can have the quick and painless nasal spray.

Monthly data for the first time breaks down uptake figures for two- and three-year-olds by area to help identify and tackle regional variation across the country.

Eligible adults can book an appointment to get their flu vaccine now at their local pharmacy, via the NHS App, GP practice, online at www.nhs.uk/bookflu or by calling 119. You can also use the pharmacy finder to find your nearest walk-in service.

Parents are being reminded to complete their child’s vaccination consent forms to schools, or to book an appointment for 2 to 3-year-olds, to ensure their child gets protected against flu ahead of the Christmas holidays.

Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: “With just weeks left to ensure best protection against the worst of the flu season, we are issuing an urgent SOS to the eligible people who have yet to get jabbed this year.

“It is vital that the public use the appointments we have running next week to stamp out this early wave of flu cases and help shield themselves ahead of winter, when viruses tend to circulate and the NHS faces increased pressure on its services.

“The vaccine is proven to be safe and help prevent those at risk from getting seriously ill and even hospitalised from flu – so please check your local pharmacy, book an appointment online or by calling 119, or speak to your GP practice today about your winter flu vaccine.”

Dr Hamish McLure, NHS England North East and Yorkshire Medical Director, said: “With flu cases already surging across the North East and Yorkshire, we’re urging those eligible not to delay getting their flu vaccine — with nearly 350,000 appointments available next week to help protect people ahead of the winter peak.”

Flu vaccines are available for everyone aged 65 and over, under-65s in clinical risk groups, pregnant women, care home residents and carers, close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed, frontline social care workers, and health and social care staff as well as children.

COVID-19 vaccinations are available to adults aged 75 and over, older adult care home residents, and people who are immunosuppressed.

In North East and Yorkshire, over 627,000 Covid-19 vaccinations have also been delivered since October and for those people eligible for both Covid and flu vaccines, the majority will have received them at the same time.

Over-75s and those that are immunosuppressed can book their COVID-19 vaccine directly with their local pharmacy, GP practice, via the NHS app, online at www.nhs.uk/bookcovid or via 119.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found that the flu vaccine is estimated to have prevented around 100,000 people from being hospitalised in England last winter.

Dr Suzanna McDonald, National Lead for the Influenza programme at UKHSA, said: “Flu has hit early this year and will only spread in the coming weeks. Many people often think they have flu when they only have a bad cold. If you get flu, it is nasty and for some more vulnerable it can be deadly. If you’re eligible it is because you are at greater risk. If you’ve not yet had a flu vaccine, don’t regret it later – stay strong and get vaccinated – as soon as possible.”

The NHS also recommends the RSV vaccine to pregnant women and older adults, as well as the pneumococcal vaccine to over-65s, to help protect against serious illnesses that are more common in the winter, like pneumonia.

You can access more information on recommended vaccinations at nhs.uk/vaccinations.