People urged to take flu vaccine as cases rise

People across Bristol are being urged to get their flu vaccine as soon as possible as cases rise.

Warnings have been issued that the 2025 flu season could be the worst in a decade, after a new form of the virus mutated suddenly in the summer.

Dr Alasdair Wood, a public health consultant at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) told the BBC that fewer people with long-term health conditions had come forward for the vaccine than in other parts of the country.

"We just want to make sure that everybody knows that it's really important, it's the best thing to protect themselves and those around them," he said.

The flu vaccine is offered every year for free by the NHS to millions of people who are deemed to be at higher risk from the virus, including those over 65, individuals with long-term health conditions and pregnant women.

More than 13 million people across the UK have already had their vaccine, but this is five million fewer than received it last year - prompting officials to urge as many eligible people as possible to come forward.

"We do see the additional pressure in both GP practices and hospitals over the winter period, it's another really important factor in helping protect people," Dr Wood said.

"In particular those with the long-term health conditions who are much more likely to get the serious impacts of flu, it can cause them to be admitted to hospital, in some cases can cause a really serious illness and if not death as well."

Beth Smout, 36, told the BBC she had opted to have the have the vaccine as she has two long-term health conditions - asthma and a heart condition - that can be worsened by lung infections, coughs and colds.

Describing the decision to take it as a "no-brainer", she said: "I am really conscious of the fact that I am more likely than some other people to end up in hospital if I did get the flu.

"That is something I'm obviously really keen to avoid both for myself and because if there's something I can do to make the work of the NHS easier, I would choose to do that.

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