Last chance to get vaccinated before Christmas as flu cases rise

13th December 2025

Weekly UKHSA report for the 2025/26 season, monitoring respiratory viruses as people are encouraged to take simple steps to protect themselves.

This weekly bulletin brings together the latest surveillance data, along with the latest public health advice for flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viruses.

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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is urging all eligible people to ensure they are vaccinated in the lead up to Christmas as rates of flu continue to rise week-on-week. Flu activity increased again this week, including both hospital admission rates and the rate of positive tests. With just 2 weeks to go, time is running out to be protected in time for the festive period.

It can take up to 2 weeks following vaccination to develop maximum immune response, making it vital that those eligible book an appointment now. Flu activity typically continues well into the new year, so the vaccination will provide protection across the winter months.

A drifted flu H3N2 strain is circulating this winter, meaning less natural immunity in the community and an unusually early start to the season, but published data from UKHSA shows the vaccine being used this winter is effective at preventing severe disease. H3N2 flu strains typically affect older adults more severely than H1N1 strains, leading to more hospitalisations and deaths, creating further pressure on our NHS this winter.

Those who are eligible for the flu vaccine are at most risk of serious complications from flu. This includes everyone over 65, those who are pregnant, or those with certain long-term health conditions. School-aged children in reception to Year 11 are offered the vaccine through school while parents can book an appointment at their GP surgery for 2 and 3 year olds. Any children missing their flu vaccine in school should still be able to visit local community clinics to get protected.

Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA:

There is still plenty of flu vaccine available to protect those who need it - what's running out is time to be protected ahead of Christmas. While new hospital admission rates for flu are not rising as sharply as last week, admissions are still increasing and GP attendances are rising as we continue to see the impacts of an unusually early season.

If you are eligible this is the last chance to get protected as we head into Christmas - so make an appointment with the NHS today. If your child has missed out on their vaccination with the school immunisation team, you should still be able to get vaccinated through a community clinic over the next few weeks. Contact your NHS school immunisation team to find out arrangements in your area – the school should be able to provide their details if you can't find them directly. Vaccination can make all the difference in preventing severe illness and hospitalisation for those eligible.

Continuing RSV admissions, mostly among the very young and the very old, also reinforces why RSV vaccination in pregnancy to protect newborns is so important, as well as for older people.

There are also simple steps we can all take to help protect one another through the festive period. If you have symptoms of flu or COVID-19 – like a high temperature, cough and feeling tired or achy – you should try to minimise contact with others, especially those more vulnerable. Washing hands regularly and ensuring indoor spaces are well ventilated both help. If you have symptoms and need to go out, you should consider wearing a face covering.

The festive period sees greater socialising between families, including grandparents, so vaccines given now can give both protection for the person vaccinated and help stop the spread of flu to others at risk.

This week’s data also shows that positive RSV tests continue to increase, so it’s important that eligible groups make sure they are vaccinated. For RSV, pregnant women are offered the vaccine from 28 weeks and it is recommended during every pregnancy to help provide the best protection for newborn babies, who are at highest risk. RSV also impacts older adults and can cause severe illness, which is why those aged 75 to 79 or who turned 80 years old after 1 September 2024 are also offered the vaccine.

In the week between 1 and 7 December 2025:

influenza activity increased and is circulating at medium levels.

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) showed mixed trends and is now circulating at medium levels
COVID-19 activity showed mixed trends but continued to circulate at baseline levels.

lu surveillance data for week 48 (1-7 December):
Flu activity increased and is circulating at medium levels
Flu positivity increased to 21% compared with 17% in the previous week
overall, flu hospitalisations were increasing at 10.05 per 100,000 from 8.09 per 100,000 in the previous week
For the 2025-26 season’s vaccination programme, children and pregnant women have been eligible since 1 September, with other groups eligible from 1 October.

Up to the end of week 49 (7 December), vaccine uptake stands at:

37.4% in those aged under 65 years with one or more long-term health conditions
35.6% in all pregnant women
71.7% in all those aged over 65 years
41.5% in children aged 2 years and 42.3% in children aged 3 years
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) surveillance data for week 48 (1-7 December):
RSV activity showed mixed trends and is circulating at medium levels
RSV positivity increased slightly to 11.5% compared with 9.9% in the previous week
the overall weekly hospital admission rate for RSV was decreasing slightly at 3.40 per 100,000 compared with 3.60 per 100,000 in the previous week
emergency department attendances for acute bronchiolitis increased
COVID-19 surveillance data for week 48 (1-7 December):
COVID-19 activity showed mixed trends and is circulating at baseline levels
COVID-19 positivity decreased slightly to 2.1% from 2.2% in the previous week
COVID-19 hospitalisations were increasing at 1.27 per 100,000 compared with 1.08 per 100,000 in the previous week

COVID-19 ICU admissions remained low at 0.02 per 100,000 compared with 0.04 per 100,000 in the previous week
Norovirus surveillance data between weeks 48 to 49 (24 November to 7 December 2025)
In week 48:

Norovirus activity has increased in recent weeks but remains within expected levels.

Total norovirus laboratory reports between weeks 48 and 49 of 2025 were 16.1% lower than the 5-season average for the same 2-week period. Overall, norovirus laboratory reports between weeks 48 and 49 were 33.9% higher than during the previous 2-week period of weeks 46 to 47 of 2025.

Total rotavirus laboratory reports between weeks 48 and 49 of 2025 were 13.0% higher than the 5-season average for the same 2-week period.

The number of norovirus outbreaks reported to the Hospital Norovirus Outbreak Reporting System (HNORS) since the start of the 2025/2026 season is 51.3% lower than the 5-season average.

During the 2025/2026 season to date, the majority (83.3%) of samples characterised were norovirus genogroup 2 (GII), of which the most frequent genotype identified was GII.4 (30.9%).

In recent weeks GII.4 has emerged as the predominant genotype and detections of GII.17 have decreased.

Amy Douglas, Lead Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:

Norovirus has remained within expected levels in recent weeks, but with the festive season upon us it’s important to remember the simple steps we can take to prevent the spread of norovirus.

At the moment the highest rate of cases is in children so if your child has any symptoms, please keep them off school or nursery until 48 hours after their symptoms stop.

If you’re unwell, don’t go to work or prepare food for others until 48 hours after your symptoms end and avoid visiting hospitals and care homes to prevent spreading the infection to vulnerable people.

Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also help stop infections from spreading. Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus so don’t rely on these alone.