Chief nurse issues ‘flu jab SOS’ appeal

Chief Nurse Issues Flu Jab SOS Appeal

England’s Chief Nursing Officer has made an urgent appeal for all those eligible for a flu vaccination to book their appointments as soon as possible, before the peak of flu season sets in.

“It is only a few weeks before the worst of the flu season typically bites,” the CNO emphasized, urging everyone eligible to act quickly.

This renewed call follows Duncan Burton’s recent warning that the flu season started unusually early this year, with particularly high infection rates reported among children and young people.

NHS England Expands Vaccination Access

NHS England has announced that 2.4 million new vaccination appointments will become available next week.

People aged 65 and over
Under-65s in clinical risk groups
Care home residents
Carers
Pregnant women
Close contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
Frontline health and social care workers
Children eligible for the flu programme

Progress of the National Rollout

According to weekly NHS England data, vaccination teams across the country have administered over 13 million flu shots since the campaign began in September. About three in five care home residents—59.4%—have already received protection, and around 2.3 million doses have been given to eligible children.

Related Initiative

The NHS Taskforce has also recommended additional training for healthcare professionals in ADHD management.

Author’s summary: The Chief Nursing Officer is urging quick action to expand flu vaccination coverage before the season peaks, as early data shows rising infection rates among young people.

Nursing in Practice — 2025-11-06