UKHSA report: 3,798 flu deaths last winter as older people are urged to get vaccinated
The UK Health Security Agency's annual report put flu deaths in England last winter at 3,798, and Age UK, the government and the NHS are urging older people to get their flu, Covid-19 and RSV vaccines.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Older people are being urged to get their flu jab after UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures put deaths from flu last winter at 3,798. Evening StandardN “Figures from the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) annual report suggest excess deaths from flu were 3,798 last winter.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “have revealed that 3,798 people died from the flu last winter” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1The Mirror reported that a further 13,048 people were hospitalised during the season, that admissions peaked towards the end of the year, and that most cases were caused by an unknown subtype of influenza A. Daily MirrorL “An additional 13,048 were hospitalised during the season” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Left · 1According to the Mirror, 3,442 of the deaths were among people aged 65 and over, 346 among those aged 15 to 64, three among five to 14-year-olds and seven among under-fives. Daily MirrorL “with 3,442 of the total attributed to the age group” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2The report estimates that the vaccination programme in England prevented about 104,000 hospital admissions and 7,100 deaths. Evening StandardN “the vaccination programme prevented an estimated 104,000 hospital admissions and 7,100 deaths” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “They estimate that 104,000 hospital admissions were prevented” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Centre · 1Overall flu vaccine effectiveness in adults was lower than the previous winter, at 21 to 34% according to the Standard, and was higher in children at 51 to 68%. Evening StandardN “the overall vaccine effectiveness in adults being lower than the previous winter, at 21 to 34%”“effectiveness was 51 to 68%” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Left · 1The Mirror said flu vaccine coverage among over-65s ranged from 71% to 75% across the home nations. Daily MirrorL “rates ranging from 71 percent to 75 percent by home nation” Read at Daily Mirror ↗
Mixed · 2UKHSA figures also show the RSV vaccine was around 82% effective at preventing hospital admissions among adults aged 75 to 79. Evening StandardN “the RSV vaccine was around 82% effective at preventing hospital admissions among older adults aged 75 to 79” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “was around 82 percent effective at preventing hospital admissions among older adults aged 75 to 79” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Mixed · 2Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, which says people should "not get complacent", called the toll "a stark reminder" that seasonal viruses should never be dismissed as just a bad cold, and urged people to take up flu, Covid-19 and RSV vaccines and to help older relatives book them. Evening StandardN “Nearly 4,000 deaths linked to flu in a single winter is a stark reminder that these seasonal viruses should never be dismissed as just a bad cold” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MirrorL “I would also encourage friends and family members to check that older relatives know which vaccinations they are eligible for” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Centre · 1Health minister Dame Diana Johnson said she was proud to support Age UK's campaign, and Dr Amanda Doyle of NHS England said more than seven million people have already had a flu vaccine. Evening StandardN “I am proud to support Age UK’s campaign and encourage everyone who has not yet come forward”“more than seven million people have already had their flu vaccine” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1On current levels, the Standard reports separate UKHSA figures published on Thursday showing flu circulating at low levels, with hospital admissions in England at 1.9 per 100,000, unchanged from a week earlier and about the same as this point in 2025. Evening StandardN “Hospital admissions for flu in England currently stand at 1.9 per 100,000 people, unchanged from a week ago” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Left · 1The Mirror, citing an earlier UKHSA surveillance report, said September flu activity was higher than in the same month of the past four winters, though still at baseline levels, with possible signs of an early season. Daily MirrorL “Flu activity throughout September has been higher than in the same period during all past 4 winter seasons.” Read at Daily Mirror ↗ Centre · 1Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal of UKHSA said the agency would be closely tracking respiratory viruses and that vaccination remains the best defence, urging eligible people to book their free NHS flu, Covid-19 or RSV vaccines, or the nasal spray for children. Evening StandardN “vaccination remains our best defence”“easy and painless nose spray flu vaccine” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the death toll as 'horror winter', with a detailed breakdown and a warning of rising flu this autumn.
- Emphasis
- Age breakdown of deaths, hospitalisations, Covid deaths, and signs of an early flu season.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report the Thursday figures showing flu at low levels and admissions unchanged.
- Charged language
- “horror winter”“skyrocketing”
- For example
-
“Older people urged to get flu jab after data reveals nearly 4,000 deaths from horror winter” — Daily Mirror
“was skyrocketing comapred to previous years” — Daily Mirror
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames the story as a vaccination appeal built around Age UK's campaign, with quotes from the charity, UKHSA, the health minister and NHS England.
- Emphasis
- Vaccine benefits, current low flu levels, and official calls to book jabs.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no age breakdown of deaths or hospitalisation count, and does not mention the early-season warning.
- For example
-
“Older people are being urged to get their flu jab, after statistics showed 4,000 deaths last winter in England were caused by flu.” — Evening Standard
“flu is currently circulating at low levels” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- UKHSA's annual report put flu deaths last winter at 3,798.
- Vaccination is estimated to have prevented about 104,000 hospital admissions and 7,100 deaths.
- RSV vaccine was around 82% effective against hospital admission in adults aged 75 to 79.
- Age UK's Caroline Abrahams and health minister Dame Diana Johnson urged older people to get vaccinated.
Where accounts differ
-
Current direction of flu activity
- Left
- Daily Mirror: flu activity is rising, cited as 'skyrocketing' compared with previous years, though still at baseline, and quotes Age UK saying cases continue to increase.
- Centre
- Evening Standard: flu is circulating at low levels, admissions at 1.9 per 100,000, unchanged week on week.
-
Adult flu vaccine effectiveness
- Left
- Mirror: fell to 21 percent from 34 percent the previous year.
- Centre
- Standard: 21 to 34%, lower than the previous winter.
UK Health Security Agency organisation
UKHSA's annual report gives the death toll and vaccine impact; its Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal says levels are being tracked closely and vaccination remains the best defence.
“we can’t easily predict what may happen over the coming weeks and vaccination remains our best defence.” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
-
Older people urged to get flu jab after data reveals nearly 4,000 deaths from horror winter
Alarmist Emphasises the scale of deaths and a possible early flu season, with detailed statistics.
Centre1 article
-
Older people urged to get their flu jabs after 4,000 deaths recorded last winter
Neutral Public-health appeal piece with quotes from Age UK, UKHSA, the minister and NHS England, noting current low flu levels.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 16 Oct 00:02 First Evening StandardN Older people urged to get their flu jabs after 4,000 deaths recorded last winter
- 16 Oct 00:07 +5m Daily MirrorL Older people urged to get flu jab after data reveals nearly 4,000 deaths from horror winter
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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