Flu vaccine kept 800 people out of hospital in Wales last winter

Flu vaccines kept more than 800 people in Wales out of hospital last winter, according to new figures released by Public Health Wales.

More than a million people in Wales had the vaccine last year, including more than 200,000 living with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, COPD and heart disease, and more than 10,000 pregnant women.

Public Health Wales estimates that, without vaccination, 50 per cent more people would have been admitted to hospital last winter.

Flu can be serious, particularly for people with certain health conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, who are more vulnerable to serious complications.

Adults with chronic liver disease are more than 40 times more likely to experience serious outcomes from flu, and those with weakened immune systems face a risk more than 45 times higher than the general population.

With the winter months fast approaching, Public Health Wales is urging all those who are eligible to take up the offer of their vaccine.

Free NHS flu vaccines are available to people aged 65 and over, those aged six months to 64 years with a long-term health condition, health and social care workers, pregnant women and care home residents.

Children aged two or three years old (on 31 August 2026), as well as all primary and secondary school pupils from reception to Year 11, are also eligible for a flu vaccine. Parents and guardians are being encouraged to provide consent so their children can be protected.

Dr Christopher Johnson, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme (VPDP) at Public Health Wales, said: “Winter viruses like flu spread easily and can hit older people and those with health conditions particularly hard.

“The impact of the flu vaccination programme is clear and it’s a powerful reminder that vaccination isn’t just about individual protection, it’s about protecting others around you and reducing winter pressures on the NHS.

“Getting your flu vaccine each winter is one of the best ways to stay well – it offers the strongest protection available.

“The protection that the flu vaccines gives fades over time, which is why having the vaccine every year is the most effective way to protect against serious illness that could land you in hospital.

“Many people will also qualify for other winter vaccines, including those for COVID-19 and RSV. Taken together, these vaccines offer the best defence against the viruses that fill up hospital beds and add strain to the NHS each winter.

“Flu can knock your whole routine off course – work, school, family life, socialising. Once your appointment is booked, set yourself a reminder so you don’t miss it, and give yourself and those around you the best possible protection.”

Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health, Nerys Evans, said: “Vaccination remains one of the most effective tools we have to protect our communities through the winter months, and I’m pleased so many people across Wales take up the offer each year.

“As well as getting vaccinated, there’s plenty we can do to stop winter illnesses spreading. Regular hand washing and staying home when unwell both help limit the spread of infections that can prove serious for some people.

“Flu arrived early last winter and stayed around for months, putting extra strain on our health and care services. I’d urge everyone eligible to take up their offer of a vaccine. Get it done and start the season properly protected.”

Full details on how to book a vaccine are available on the Public Health Wales website.