Source: UK Health Security Agency / Gov.uk – Updated 5 August 2024
Seasonal flu vaccination is a critically important public health intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality in those most at risk including older people, pregnant women and those in clinical risk groups. It helps the health and social care system manage winter pressures by helping to reduce demand for GP consultations and likelihood of hospitalisation. Vaccinating health and care workers also plays an important role in helping to prevent transmission of flu, protecting themselves and those they care for.
A comprehensive list of the groups included in the national immunisation programme for the 2024 to 2025 flu season in England are described in the National flu immunisation programme 2024 to 2025 letter, in the Statement of Amendments to Annual Flu letter – 12 June 2024 and in the Vaccine eligibility section below.
KEY CHANGES
- The key changes to the flu vaccination programme for the 2024 to 2025 flu season are changes to the recommendations as to when the flu vaccine should be given (see section on timing of vaccination) and the change to the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) from a quadrivalent to a trivalent vaccine (see section on LAIV vaccine).
- The cell-based quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (QIVc) is now licensed from 6 months of age (was previously from 2 years of age).
- In addition, the recombinant quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVr) will not be available for the 2024 to 2025 flu vaccination programme.
- However, the high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV-HD) will be available and either this vaccine, or the adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine (aQIV), should be offered to those age 65 years and over.
- QIV-HD can also be offered to those age 60 to 64 in risk groups (more detailed information is provided in this guidance).
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