The Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency have published their annual flu letter which sets out guidance for the 2024 to 2025 season.
The letter confirms that there are no changes to the eligible cohorts for the coming year, although there are changes to timing. JCVI have advised moving the start of the programme for most adults to the beginning of October, so most vaccinations are completed by the end of November, closer to the time that the flu season commonly starts - flu typically peaks in December or January.
As flu circulation in children normally precedes that in adults, the JCVI have agreed the children’s programme should continue to start in September as early as delivery and supply allows. No change in the timing of the offer for the maternal programme has been advised (see paragraph on pregnant women in the letter below). For more detail, see the National flu immunisation programme 2024 to 2025 letter - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants, are among those who will be offered flu vaccination from October 2024, exact start date to be confirmed by NHS England in due course.
