Record breaking year for flu vaccine uptake in Wales

Published: 04 May 2021

During the autumn and winter of 2020/21 more people in Wales have received their flu vaccine than in any other previous year.

There has been very little flu circulating this season. This is likely to be a result of people following COVID-19 safety guidelines, such as social distancing, and regular robust hand washing, as well as having their flu vaccination.

Vaccine uptake increased across eligible groups, with more than 76.5 per cent of people aged 65 and over taking up the vaccine this winter.

Vaccine uptake also increased in children aged two and three years old - a key group for helping to control and limit the spread of the flu virus, health care workers and those with long term health conditions.

Those routinely eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine includes people with long term health conditions, people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, children aged two to ten years old, carers, domiciliary carers and care home staff with regular client contact, as well as care home residents. Healthcare workers with direct patient care are also strongly recommended to have the vaccine each year, to help protect themselves and those they care for.

In addition, this year new groups were added, to help protect more people. This included household contacts of individuals on the NHS COVID-19 shielded list, and people with a learning disability, and the eligibility age was extended to 50, meaning everyone aged 50 and above could have a free flu vaccine, making it the largest ever national flu programme to date. 

Dr Richard Roberts Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme in Public Health Wales said, “It’s great news that more people than ever had a flu vaccination last year. Although there has been very little flu circulating in Wales over the last year, flu could rebound next winter when the current measures are relaxed. Flu remains a dangerous viral infection, and in bad years has caused over 20,000 deaths in the UK over a winter period. NHS Wales is already planning the flu vaccinations for next autumn.”