Official Statistics

Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in GP patients in England: winter season 2024 to 2025

Published 22 May 2025

Applies to England

This report describes the final influenza vaccine uptake data for GP-registered patients in England for 2024 to 2025 (1 September 2024 to 28 February 2025).

The extrapolated number of GP-registered patients that were recorded as vaccinated in the 2024 to 2025 season was over 18.2 million.

Main points

During the 2024 to 2025 season, for the first time adult groups (excluding pregnant women) were eligible from 3 October, rather than 1 September as in previous seasons. Therefore, data for those aged 65 years and over, and those aged under 65 years in clinical risk groups, is not comparable with previous seasons. As in previous seasons, children and pregnant women were eligible from 1 September.

From 1 September 2024 to 28 February 2025 in England, cumulative vaccine uptake in GP-registered patients:

• aged 65 years and over was 74.9% (for reference this was 77.8% in 2023 to 2024)
• aged 6 months to under 65 years in one or more clinical risk groups was 40.0% (for reference this was 41.4% in 2023 to 2024)
• aged 2 and 3 years combined was 42.6% compared with 44.4% in 2023 to 2024
• aged 2 years was 41.7 % compared with 44.1% in 2023 to 2024
• aged 3 years was 43.5% compared with 44.6% in 2023 to 2024
• and in pregnant women was 35.0%, compared with 32.1% in 2023 to 2024

The 2024 to 2025 annual flu letter outlines the national vaccine uptake ambitions which were to demonstrate a 100% offer and to achieve equal or above the uptake levels of the previous season (2023 to 2024) for each group. Pregnant women achieved the national vaccine uptake ambitions of equivalent or higher uptake this season (2024 to 2025) than in the previous season. Compared with the previous season, vaccine uptake percentages decreased in other groups with comparable programme timings (those aged 2 and 3). For those groups where the programme started later (aged 65 years and over, and those aged 6 months to under 65 years in at-risk groups) for reference vaccine uptake was lower than the previous season. In those aged 65 years and over, vaccine uptake was 0.1 percentage point below the World Health Organization (WHO) vaccine uptake target of 75%, but was 2.5 percentage points higher than that seen in the last season prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2019 to 2020; 72.4%). In those aged 65 years and over, 63.2% (67 out of 106) of sub-integrated care boards (sub-ICBs) achieved the WHO target vaccine uptake of at least 75%. Although not comparable due to the change in programme timings, for reference in the previous season 77.4% (82 out of 106) of sub-ICBs achieved the WHO target.

Results of influenza vaccine uptake for GP patients

Data tables showing final vaccine uptake for each of the eligible groups accompany the publication of this report and are available at NHS region, ICB and sub-ICB level, as well as local authority level.

GP practice response rate

GP response rate from GP practices in England for the main GP flu survey was 98.7% (6,148 out of 6,229 practices), compared with 96.9% in the previous season. The GP response rate for the child GP flu survey was 99.2% (6,177 out of 6,225 practices), compared with 93.6% in the previous season. Data represents both automated and manual uploads. Further information about these surveys can be found in background information.

Weekly versus monthly vaccine uptake comparison (provisional data)

Provisional weekly national level vaccine uptake data was published in the weekly disease surveillance report throughout the season (data from week 40 (October 2024) to week 4 (January 2025). Weekly and monthly vaccine uptake data was overall in good agreement, with the provisional national results from the 5 monthly returns closely matching their weekly equivalent, confirming that the weekly sentinel collection is an excellent indicator of uptake at a national level. Further information on the sentinel survey collection can be found in data sources and methodology.

The weekly sentinel survey only used automated extracts. The response rate ranged between 98.6% in week 48 to 93.3% in week 47 for the main GP survey, and from 99.0% in week 1 to 92.9% in week 47 for the child GP survey. 

Observed and extrapolated estimate of number of patients registered with GP practices and numbers who received influenza vaccine

The total extrapolated estimate of individuals who received an influenza vaccine this season was 18,188,706 compared with 18,888,896 in the previous season (Table 1). This is over 700,000 fewer than in the previous season; however, this season the timing of programme implementation for adult groups differed to previous seasons (for the first time adult groups (excluding pregnant women) were eligible from 3 October, rather than 1 September as in previous seasons) - see background information.

Patients aged 65 years and over

Vaccine uptake in patients aged 65 years and over was 74.9% in this season and although comparisons cannot be made to the previous season (due to changes in the timing of programme implementation), for reference this was a 2.9 percentage point decrease (77.8% in the previous season) (Table 1). The ambition of equivalent or higher uptake than last season was not reached, and the end of season uptake for this group was 0.1 percentage point below the World Health Organization (WHO) vaccine uptake target of 75% (Figure 1). This is the first time since the 2020 to 2021 season that this group did not exceed the WHO target, however, this season vaccine uptake was 2.5 percentage points higher than that seen in the last season prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2019 to 2020; 72.4%) (Figure 1).

The extrapolated estimate of the number of patients aged 65 years and over registered at a GP practice who would have been vaccinated by the end of February 2025 was over 8.6 million (8,606,404) (Table 1 and Figure 2). For reference this is over 273,000  fewer patients than the previous season. The size of the denominator for the 65 years and over group increases every year (an ageing population) and this season increased by over 77,000.

Table 1. Observed and extrapolated estimate of number of patients registered with GP practices and numbers who received influenza vaccine in England during the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season

Age groups	2024 to 2025 number of patients registered in each age group	2024 to 2025 number of eligible patients vaccinated	2024 to 2025 percentage vaccine uptake	2023 to 2024 number of patients registered in each group	2023 to 2024 number of eligible patients vaccinated	2023 to 2024 percentage vaccine uptake
Aged 65 years and over	11,338,042	8,494,489	74.9	11,061,423	8,608,243	77.8
Aged 65 years and over extrapolated	11,487,421	8,606,404	74.9	11,410,239	8,879,699	77.8
All patients aged 6 months to under 65 years [note 1]	51,439,331	9,457,697	18.4	50,745,044	9,703,211	19.1
All patients aged 6 months to under 65 years extrapolated	52,117,045	9,582,302	18.4	52,345,262	10,009,197	19.1
Total observed (65 years and over and all patients under 65 years) [note 1]	62,777,373	17,952,186	28.6	61,806,467	18,311,454	29.6
Total extrapolated (65 years and over and all patients under 65 years)	63,604,466	18,188,706	28.6	63,755,501	18,888,896	29.6

Figure 1. Influenza vaccine uptake percentage (%) for those aged 65 years and over, and those aged under 65 years who are at-risk in England from 2008 to 2009 to 2024 to 2025 season

Note: during the 2024 to 2025 season, for the first time adult groups (excluding pregnant women) were eligible from 3 October, rather than 1 September as in previous seasons. Therefore, data for those aged 65 years and over, and those aged under 65 years in clinical risk groups, is not comparable with previous seasons.

At-risk patients aged 6 months to under 65 years

Vaccine uptake in patients aged 6 months to under 65 years in one or more clinical risk groups was 40.0% and although comparisons cannot be made to the previous season (due to changes in the timing of programme implementation). For reference in the previous season uptake was 41.4% (a 1.4 percentage point decrease) (Table 2 and Figure 1). The extrapolated estimate of the total number of patients aged 6 months to under 65 years in a clinical at-risk group who would have been vaccinated by the end of February 2025 was over 3.7 million (3,778,599) (Table 2 and Figure 2) .

There have been no changes to eligibility of risk groups between this season and the previous season. However, as previously noted, most adults became eligible a month later this season compared with previous seasons. This season’s denominator is 302,104 fewer than the previous season (9,441,322 this season, compared with 9,743,426 in the previous season (Table 2).

Table 2. Observed and extrapolated estimate of number of registered patients aged 6 months to under 65 years and in one or more clinical risk groups (excluding pregnant women without other risk factors and carers), in England who received an influenza vaccine in the 2024 to 2025 season compared with 2023 to 2024 season

Target groups for vaccination	2024 to 2025 number of patients registered	2024 to 2025 number of patients vaccinated	2024 to 2025 percentage vaccine uptake	2023 to 2024 number of patients registered	2023 to 2024 number of patients vaccinated	2023 to 2024 percentage vaccine uptake
Aged 6 months to under 65 years in a clinical risk group	9,318,550	3,729,463	40.0	9,445,565	3,908,092	41.4
Aged 6 months to under 65 years in a clinical risk group extrapolated	9,441,322	3,778,599	40.0	9,743,426	4,031,332	41.4

Figure 2. Extrapolated estimated number of influenza vaccines administered in the 65 years and over, and those under 65 years at-risk groups, in England from 2009 to 2010 to 2024 to 2025 season

Note: data prior to 2018 to 2019 includes data up to the end of January.

Note: during the 2024 to 2025 season, for the first time adult groups (excluding pregnant women) were eligible from 3 October, rather than 1 September as in previous seasons. Therefore, data for those aged 65 years and over, and those aged under 65 years in clinical risk groups, is not comparable with previous seasons.

Vaccine uptake for clinical at-risk groups broken down by age categories is given in Table 3 and Figure 3. As noted earlier, due to changes in the timings of programme implementation this season, comparison with previous seasons cannot be made. However, for reference uptake is lower this season in all age bands apart from in those 6 months to under 2 years (an increase of 1.9 percentage points) and in those aged 5 years to under 16 years (an increase of 0.5 percentage points. As this is within 1 percentage point difference this is considered comparable).

Vaccine uptake remains lowest in those aged 6 months to under 2 years in a clinical risk group (11.6% for reference this was 9.7% in the previous season (Figure 3). Uptake is  highest in those aged 5 years to under 16 years in a clinical risk group (52.1%, for reference this was 51.6% in the previous season) (Table 3 and Figure 3).

Table 3. Observed and extrapolated number of at-risk registered patients aged 6 months to under 65 years by age band in England who received an influenza vaccine in the 2024 to 2025 season

Target groups for vaccination	2024 to 2025 number of patients registered	2024 to 2025 number of patients vaccinated	2024 to 2025 percentage vaccine uptake	2023 to 2024 number of patients registered	2023 to 2024 number of patients vaccinated	2023 to 2024 percentage vaccine uptake
Total observed 6 months under 65 years in a clinical risk group	9,318,550	3,729,463	40.0	9,445,565	3,908,092	41.4
Total extrapolated 6 months under 65 years in a clinical risk group	9,441,322	3,778,599	40.0	9,743,426	4,031,332	41.4
6 months to under 2 years in a clinical risk group	16,763	1,943	11.6	17,872	1,734	9.7
6 months to under 2 years in a clinical risk group extrapolated	16,545	1,918	11.6	17,326	1,681	9.7
2 years to under 5 years in a clinical risk group	56,119	24,478	43.6	61,895	28,397	45.9
2 years to under 5 years in a clinical risk group extrapolated	56,858	24,800	43.6	63,847	29,292	45.9
5 years to under 16 years in a clinical risk group	592,223	308,711	52.1	600,289	309,648	51.6
5 years to under 16 years in a clinical risk group extrapolated	600,026	312,778	52.1	619,219	319,413	51.6
16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group	8,653,445	3,394,331	39.2	8,765,509	3,568,313	40.7
16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group extrapolated	8,767,454	3,439,051	39.2	9,041,925	3,680,838	40.7

Note: the data for those 6 months to under 2 years in a clinical risk group should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size.

Figure 3. Influenza vaccine uptake percentage (%) in those at-risk and aged under 65 years by age group in England during the 2024 to 2025 season compared with previous survey seasons 

Note: from the 2015 to 2016 season, patients with morbid obesity with no other clinical risk groups were included in the denominator. Also note that there were supply issues for the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) vaccine in the 2019 to 2020 season which affected those aged 2 years to under 16 years.

Note: during the 2024 to 2025 season, for the first time adult groups (excluding pregnant women) were eligible from 3 October, rather than 1 September as in previous seasons. Therefore, data for adults aged under 65 years in clinical risk groups, is not comparable with previous seasons.

Individual risk groups

Vaccine uptake percentages in the individual risk groups aged under 65 years are shown in Table 5, Figure 4a, Figure 4b and the supplementary data Table 12 to Table 20. Vaccine uptake varied for patients in a clinical risk group, and although comparisons cannot be made to the previous season (due to changes in the timing of programme implementation), all groups were below last season, except in patients with chronic neurological disease (including stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis (MS) (Table 5).

 Among the general population aged 6 months to under 65 years, the proportion in each of the risk groups was comparable (less than 1 percentage point difference) between this season and the previous season (Table 4), with differences between seasons ranging from a 0.1 percentage point increase this season in the prevalence of chronic liver disease to a 0.2 percentage point decrease this season in the prevalence of diabetes and also in chronic respiratory disease (Table 4).

Vaccine uptake percentage pattern for individual risk groups were similar to last season (Table 5 and Figure 4a). This season the highest vaccine uptake by individual risk group was in patients with a severe learning disability (subset of chronic neurological disease) at 56.2% (for reference this was 60.1% in the previous season). The lowest uptake this season was patients with any learning disability (including severe) at 33.2% (35.5% in the previous season) (Table 5 and Figure 4a). Following a similar pattern as the previous season, the second and third-lowest uptake was seen patients with chronic liver disease at 33.8% (36.7% in the previous season) and patients with morbid obesity (body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 40) at 34.2% (37.5% in the previous season). Groups with vaccine uptake percentages below 45% this season were patients with chronic respiratory disease (44.6%; 47.1% in the previous season), patients with chronic neurological disease (including stroke or TIA, cerebral palsy or MS) (44.6%; 42.7% in the previous season), patients with asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen (43.9%; 47.2% in the previous season), and patients with chronic heart disease (41.4%; 41.7% in the previous season) (Table 5 and Figure 4a).

Vaccine uptake percentages varied across individual risk groups and by age (Table 5). The greatest variation by age was seen in patients with diabetes, ranging from 10.6% in those 6 months to under 2 years, to 51.1% in those 5 years to under 16 years (Table 5). The least variation by age was seen in patients with any learning disability (including severe), ranging from 18.4% in those 6 months to under 2 years, and 40.6% in those 5 years to under 16 years.

Table 4. Prevalence of each risk group in the at-risk total population in the GP record this season (2024 to 2025) compared with the previous season (2023 to 2024) for all those aged 6 months to under 65 years in England

Risk group	Prevalence per 100 in total 6 months to 65 years population 2024 to 2025	Prevalence per 100 in total 6 months to 65 years population 2023 to 2024
Patients with diabetes	1.9	2.1
Patients with chronic kidney disease	0.4	0.5
Patients with immunosuppression	0.7	0.7
Patients with chronic neurological disease (including stroke or TIA, cerebral palsy, or MS)	0.8	0.9
Patients with a severe learning disability (subset of chronic neurological disease)	0.1	0.1
Patients with any learning disability (including severe)	0.7	0.7
Patients with chronic respiratory disease	2.9	3.1
Patients with chronic heart disease	1.6	1.7
Patients with chronic liver disease	0.7	0.6
Patients with asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen	0.2	0.2
Patients with morbid obesity (BMI more than 40) (aged 16 to under 65 years only)	0.6	0.6

Table 5. Influenza vaccine uptake by individual clinical risk groups and age band for GP-registered patients aged 6 months to under 65 years in England for this season (2024 to 2025) and the previous season (2023 to 2024)

Risk group [note 1]	2024 to 2025: 6 months to under 2 years	2024 to 2025: 2 years to under 5 years	2024 to 2025: 5 years to under 16 years	2024 to 2025: 16 years to under 65	2024 to 2025: total under 65 years	2023 to 2024: 6 months to under 2 years	2023 to 2024: 2 years to under 5 years	2023 to 2024: 5 years to under 16 years	2023 to 2024: 16 years to under 65 years	2023 to 2024: total under 65 years
Patients with diabetes	10.6	44.3	51.1	49.7	49.7	9.2	45.4	51.3	50.9	50.8
Patients with chronic kidney disease	14.8	40.1	44.3	48.1	48.0	10.2	42.1	44.0	49.2	49.1
Patients with immunosuppression [note 1]	9.8	38.3	46.1	47.4	47.2	7.3	40.4	45.9	48.5	48.3
Patients with chronic neurological disease (including stroke or TIA, cerebral palsy or MS) [note 1]	12.6	41.2	47.8	44.5	44.6	9.7	42.6	46.9	42.5	42.7
Patients with a severe learning disability (subset of chronic neurological disease)	[note 2]	29.3 [note 4]	41.9	57.4	56.2	[note 2]	42.7	44.2	61.7	60.1
Patients with any learning disability (including severe)	18.4	33.2	40.6	29.1	33.2	19.6	35.3	40.5	32.8	35.5
Patients with chronic respiratory disease	16.0	49.4	54.1	43.4	44.6	12.9	51.8	53.6	46.3	47.1
Patients with chronic heart disease [note 1]	11.2	40.8	49.8	41.1	41.4	10.4	42.6	49.4	41.4	41.7
Patients with chronic liver disease [note 1]	16.1	41.1	42.0	33.7	33.8	9.9	41.4	42.1	36.7	36.7
Patients with asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen	16.9	48.5	54.2	42.8	43.9	15.0	50.7	54.0	46.5	47.2
Patients with morbid obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 40) [note 1]	[note 3]	[note 3]	[note 3]	34.2	34.2	[note 3]	[note 3]	[note 3]	37.5	37.5

Note 1: there were adjustments to classification in clinical coding of these groups in the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terminology (SNOMED CT) and caution should be applied in historical comparisons.

Note 2: this indicates data was suppressed because of small numbers.

Note 3: data not available.

Note 4: data should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size

The prevalence of individual at-risk groups can vary from year to year depending on current definitions of persons who are at risk and the quality of the data capture, see SNOMED CT transition for further context. See Table 4 for the changes to the prevalence of each risk group in the at-risk population aged 6 months to under 65 years.

Figure 4a. Extrapolated number of registered patients who received an influenza vaccine in England during the 2024 to 2025 season, by individual clinical risk group for all those aged 6 months to under 65 years   

Note: during the 2024 to 2025 season, for the first time adult groups (excluding pregnant women) were eligible from 3 October, rather than 1 September as in previous seasons. Therefore, data for those aged under 65 years in clinical risk groups, is not comparable with previous seasons.

Figure 4b. Influenza vaccine uptake percentage (%) by individual clinical risk group for all those aged 6 months to under 65 years in England, for the 2024 to 2025 and 2023 to 2024 seasons

Note: during the 2024 to 2025 season, for the first time adult groups (excluding pregnant women) were eligible from 3 October, rather than 1 September as in previous seasons. Therefore, data for those aged under 65 years in clinical risk groups, is not comparable with previous seasons.

Pregnant women

This season, as in previous seasons pregnant women were eligible for the seasonal influenza vaccination programme from 1 September. This group was added to the national programme in 2010 to 2011 and the highest end of season uptake on record was during the 2017 to 2018 season (47.2%) (Figure 5). Vaccine uptake in all pregnant women (healthy and at-risk groups combined) was 35.0% this season, a 2.9 percentage point increase from 32.1% in the previous season (Figure 5 and Table 6). Pregnant women achieved the national vaccine uptake ambitions of equivalent or higher uptake this season than in the previous season. As seen in the previous season, vaccine uptake this season was higher in pregnant women in clinical risk groups (44.9%) than in pregnant women not in clinical risk groups (33.6%) (Table 6), with this season having a 11.3 percentage point difference between those in risk groups and those not in risk groups.

The extrapolated estimate of the number of pregnant women registered at a GP practice who would have been vaccinated by the end of February 2025 was 228,054 which is 4,494 fewer individuals than the previous season (Table 6). Note that the denominator for pregnant women was over 70,000 smaller this season than last season (651,368 this season compared with 724,714 last season, Table 6). Data on the uptake of vaccine by pregnant women needs to be interpreted with caution (see data limitations). Also note that for the first time from 1 September 2024 a maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation programme was also delivered.

Figure 5. Influenza vaccine uptake (%) in pregnant women in England in the 2024 to 2025 season compared with previous survey seasons   

Note 1: The maternal influenza vaccination programme was introduced in 2010 to 2011 season, but data was collected in a different format for that season and is therefore not reported above.

Table 6. Observed and extrapolated estimated number of pregnant women registered and who received an influenza vaccine in England during the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season

Target groups for vaccination	2024 to 2025 number of patients registered	2024 to 2025 number of patients vaccinated	2024 to 2025 percentage vaccine uptake	2023 to 2024 number of patients registered	2023 to 2024 number of patients vaccinated	2023 to 2024 percentage vaccine uptake
All pregnant women (includes both ‘healthy’ and at risk)	642,898	225,088	35.0	702,559	225,438	32.1
All pregnant women extrapolated (includes both ‘healthy’ and at risk)	651,368	228,054	35.0	724,714	232,547	32.1
Pregnant women and in a clinical risk group	78,862	35,411	44.9	124,998	51,755	41.4
Pregnant women and in a clinical risk group extrapolated	79,901	35,878	44.9	128,940	53,387	41.4
Pregnant women not in a clinical risk group	564,036	189,677	33.6	577,561	173,683	30.1
Pregnant women not in a clinical risk group extrapolated	571,467	192,176	33.6	595,774	179,160	30.1

Pre-school-aged children

This season, as in previous seasons children were eligible for the seasonal influenza vaccination programme from 1 September. Combined vaccine uptake in those aged 2 and 3 years was 42.6% this season, compared with 44.4% in the previous season (Table 7), which is a 1.7 percentage point decrease. As seen in the previous season, vaccine uptake this season was higher in 2 and 3 years olds in clinical risk groups (45.6%) than in those not in clinical risk groups (42.6%) (Table 7), with this season having a 3.0 percentage point difference between those in risk groups and those not in risk groups.

The extrapolated estimate of the number of those aged 2 and 3 years registered at a GP practice who would have been vaccinated by the end of February 2025 was 529,792 (Table 7). This is 27,815 fewer individuals than the previous season. Vaccine uptake for individual year groups can be found in the accompanying tables.

A summary of vaccine uptake in 2 and 3 years olds for each season since the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) programme was introduced in the 2013 to 2014 season can be found in Figure 6 and the accompanying data tables.

For historical context of this group, the highest vaccine uptake on record was 56.7% (the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic) (Figure 6), with uptake decreasing in the following 2 seasons. The end of season vaccine uptake decreased to 50.1% in the 2021 to 2022 season (the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic). The 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 seasons saw comparable uptake to each other (within 1 percentage point difference) at 43.7% and 44.4% respectively. This was comparable to vaccine uptake seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2019 to 2020), (43.8%), however, due to supply issues for this group that season data is not wholly comparable. The season before that (2018 to 2019) saw an uptake of 44.9%. This season’s uptake was 2.3 percentage points below that seen in 2018 to 2019 season (Figure 6) .

Figure 6. Influenza vaccine uptake percentage (%) in 2 and 3 year olds (combined) in England for the 2024 to 2025 season compared with previous survey seasons

Table 7. Observed and extrapolated number of GP-registered patients aged 2 and 3 years who received an influenza vaccine in England during the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season

Target groups for vaccination	2024 to 2025 number of patients registered	2024 to 2025 number of patients vaccinated	2024 to 2025 percentage vaccine uptake	2023 to 2024 number of patients registered	2023 to 2024 number of patients vaccinated	2023 to 2024 percentage vaccine uptake
All 2 and 3 year olds (includes both ‘healthy’ and at risk)	1,232,780	525,707	42.6	1,176,128	521,735	44.4
All 2 and 3 year olds (includes both ‘healthy’ and at risk) extrapolated	1,242,360	529,792	42.6	1,256,994	557,608	44.4
All 2 and 3 year olds and in a clinical risk group	36,645	16,693	45.6	38,998	18,674	47.9
All 2 and 3 year olds sand in a clinical risk group extrapolated	36,930	16,823	45.6	41,679	19,958	47.9
All 2 and 3 year olds and not in a clinical risk group	1,196,135	509,014	42.6	1,137,130	503,061	44.2
All 2 and 3 year olds and not in a clinical risk group extrapolated	1,205,430	512,969	42.6	1,215,315	537,650	44.2

Vaccine uptake in those aged 2 years was 41.7% this season, compared with 44.1% in the previous season (Table 8), which is a 2.4 percentage point decrease. The extrapolated estimate of the number of those aged 2 years registered at a GP practice who would have been vaccinated by the end of February 2025 was 257,195. This is 16,503 fewer individuals than the previous season.

Table 8. Observed and extrapolated number of GP-registered patients aged 2 years who received an influenza vaccine in England during the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season

Target groups for vaccination	2024 to 2025 number of patients registered	2024 to 2025 number of patients vaccinated	2024 to 2025 percentage vaccine uptake	2023 to 2024 number of patients registered	2023 to 2024 number of patients vaccinated	2023 to 2024 percentage vaccine uptake
All 2 year olds (includes both ‘healthy’ and at risk)	611,442	255,212	41.7	580,974	256,090	44.1
All 2 year olds (includes both ‘healthy’ and at risk) extrapolated	616,193	257,195	41.7	620,920	273,698	44.1
Aged 2 years old and in a clinical risk group	16,500	7,262	44.0	16,448	7,733	47.0
Aged 2 years old and in a clinical risk group extrapolated	16,628	7,318	44.0	17,579	8,265	47.0
Aged 2 years old and not in a clinical risk group	594,942	247,950	41.7	564,526	248,357	44.0
Aged 2 years old and not in a clinical risk group extrapolated	599,565	249,877	41.7	603,341	265,433	44.0

Vaccine uptake in those aged 3 years was 43.5% this season, compared with 44.6% in the previous season (Table 9), which is a 1.1 percentage point decrease. The extrapolated estimate of the number of those aged 3 years registered at a GP practice who would have been vaccinated by the end of February 2025 was 272,597. This is - 11,313 fewer individuals than the previous season.

Table 9. Observed and extrapolated number of GP-registered patients aged 3 years who received an influenza vaccine in England during the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season

Target groups for vaccination	2024 to 2025 number of patients registered	2024 to 2025 number of patients vaccinated	2024 to 2025 percentage vaccine uptake	2023 to 2024 number of patients registered	2023 to 2024 number of patients vaccinated	2023 to 2024 percentage vaccine uptake
All 3 year olds (includes both ‘healthy’ and at risk)	621,338	270,495	43.5	595,154	265,645	44.6
All 3 year olds (includes both ‘healthy’ and at risk) extrapolated	626,166	272,597	43.5	636,075	283,910	44.6
Aged 3 years old and in a clinical risk group	20,145	9,431	46.8	22,550	10,941	48.5
Aged 3 years old and in a clinical risk group extrapolated	20,302	9,504	46.8	24,100	11,693	48.5
Aged 3 years old and not in a clinical risk group	601,193	261,064	43.4	572,604	254,704	44.5
Aged 3 years old and not in a clinical risk group extrapolated	605,865	263,093	43.4	611,974	272,217	44.5

All patients aged 6 months to under 65 years

Vaccine uptake in all patients aged 6 months to under 65 years was 18.4% and although comparisons cannot be made to the previous season (due to changes in the timing of programme implementation), for reference in the previous season uptake was 19.1% (a 0.7 percentage point decrease) (Table 10).

Table 10. Observed and extrapolated figures for ‘all patients’ aged 6 months to under 65 years in England who received influenza vaccine by age band in the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season

All GP registered patient data (Includes those in a risk group and those not in a clinical risk group)	2024 to 2025 number of patients registered	2024 to 2025 number of patients vaccinated	2024 to 2025 percentage vaccine uptake	2023 to 2024 number of patients registered	2023 to 2024 number of patients vaccinated	2023 to 2024 percentage vaccine uptake
Total observed 6 months under 65 years	51,439,331	9,457,697	18.4	50,745,044	9,703,211	19.1
Total extrapolated 6 months under 65 years	52,117,045	9,582,302	18.4	52,345,262	10,009,197	19.1
6 months to under 2 years	829,475	2,701	0.3	848,974	2,461	0.3
6 months to under 2 years extrapolated	840,403	2,737	0.3	875,746	2,539	0.3
2 years to under 5 years	1,823,972	678,191	37.2	1,843,551	703,776	38.2
2 years to under 5 years extrapolated	1,848,003	687,126	37.2	1,901,686	725,969	38.2
5 years to under 16 years	7,928,437	3,572,971	45.1	7,905,761	3,482,078	44.0
5 years to under 16 years extrapolated	8,032,894	3,620,045	45.1	8,155,065	3,591,883	44.0
16 years to under 65 years	40,857,447	5,203,834	12.7	40,146,758	5,514,896	13.7
16 years to under 65 years extrapolated	41,395,745	5,272,395	12.7	41,412,764	5,688,805	13.7

Other healthcare settings

The percentage of vaccinations administered at different locations for eligible groups are shown in Table 11. Other healthcare settings include antenatal clinics, care homes and private or occupational health. This season still saw most vaccinations delivered within GP practices, but with lower percentages than the previous season in all groups apart from in individuals aged 2 and 3 years, who saw a 1.0 percentage point increase in GP practice delivery (97.5% compared with 96.5% the previous season), (Table 11). For groups that saw a decrease in the percentages of vaccinations given in GP practices between seasons, the figures were as follows: in those aged 65 years and over (63.8% compared with 67.3% in the previous season), for those in at-risk groups (56.9% compared with 62.0%) and in pregnant women (50.7% compared with 56.6%) (Table 11).

For this season compared with the previous season, in those aged 65 years and over, delivery in pharmacies increased by 2.9 percentage points (28.1% compared with 25.5 the previous season), with a comparable percentages (less than 1 percentage point difference) seen in other healthcare settings for this and the previous season (an increase of 0.6 percentage points this season (8.1% compared with 7.5%) (Table 11.

For those in an at-risk group, compared with the previous season there was a 5.1 percentage point increase in pharmacy delivery (26.7% this season compared with 21.6% in the previous season). Delivery in other healthcare settings was comparable (16.4% for both seasons) (Table 11). 

Pregnant women saw an increase of 6.9 percentage points in vaccination delivery in other healthcare settings (antenatal clinics) this season compared with the previous season (26.7% this season compared with 21.6% in the previous season) (Table 11.

Historical trends in vaccination delivery location from 2019 to 2020 (pre-COVID-19 pandemic) to the 2024 to 2025 season are presented in the supplementary data, Table 21. Since the 2019 to 2020 season there has been a continued decline in vaccinations delivered in GP practices for those aged 65 years and over, clinical risk groups and pregnant women, with continued increases seen in vaccinations delivered in pharmacies and other healthcare settings. The group that has seen the largest change in location of vaccination delivery during this time is pregnant women. For this group 90.0% of vaccinations were delivered in GP practices in the 2019 to 2020 season, compared with 50.7% this season. This season 13.4% of vaccinations were delivered in pharmacies, compared with 4.2% in the 2019 to 2020 season. This season 35.9% of vaccinations were delivered in other healthcare settings (antenatal clinics) compared with 5.8% in the 2019 to 2020 season (supplementary data, Table 21).

Recording of vaccinations given in another healthcare setting outside of the GP practice does not come under an existing information standard, therefore location recording can be varied among GP practices and GP system suppliers (see data limitations).

Table 11. Percentage (%) of influenza vaccinations given by location for those aged 65 years and over, patients aged 6 months to under 65 years and in one or more clinical risk groups, pregnant women, all aged 2 and 3 years in England for the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season

Patient group	2024 to 2025 GP practices	2024 to 2025 pharmacies	2024 to 2025 other healthcare settings and schools	2023 to 2024 GP practices	2023 to 2024 pharmacies	2023 to 2024 other healthcare settings and schools
Aged 65 years and over	63.8	28.1	8.1	67.3	25.2	7.5
Aged 6 months to under 65 years at risk	56.9	26.7	16.4	62.0	21.6	16.4
All pregnant women	50.7	13.4	35.9	56.6	14.5	29.0
All 2 year olds and 3 year olds	97.5	0.1	2.4	96.5	0.1	3.4

Carers

This season vaccine uptake for carers aged 16 to under 65 years and not in a clinical risk group was 31.8% compared with 32.7% this season, a 0.9 percentage point decrease compared with the previous season (Table 12). Caution should be used when interpreting this data as carer status is poorly recorded in the GP record and is not likely to be kept up to date.

Table 12. Observed and extrapolated figures for carers who received an influenza vaccine in England for the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season

Target groups for vaccination	Number of patients registered	Number of patients vaccinated	2024 to 2025 percentage vaccine uptake	2023 to 2024 percentage vaccine uptake
Aged 16 years to under 65 years not at risk who fulfil the carer definition	826,034	262,317	31.8	32.7
Aged 16 years to under 65 years not at risk who fulfil the carer definition extrapolated	837,000	266,000	31.8	32.7

Social care workers

The collection of vaccination data for GP-registered patients who are social care workers was introduced to the GP survey in the 2019 to 2020 season as an experimental group. This season, data was available for 67.0% (4,172 out of 6,230) of all GP practices in England. This is compared with 62.4% (3,961 out of 6,346) of all GP practices in England in the previous season. The response rate ranged from 35.4% in London to 92.4% in the South West. Therefore, caution should be used when interpreting the data.

There were 32,823 social care workers who were recorded on data submitted by GP practices, increasing from 32,278 in the previous season. This is likely to account for around 2% of social care workers (1.63 million in adult social care). Of social care workers included in this data collection, this season 31.2% were vaccinated, compared with 38.1% in the previous season (a decrease of 6.9 percentage points). At the regional level, vaccine uptake ranged from 17.0% in London to 35.4% in the East of England.

Despite SNOMED CT codes for social care occupations being added in 2018, this is still poorly recorded in the GP record and is not likely to be kept up to date on such a fluid workforce with very little available occupational health support. Data flows from social care employers and pharmacies will need to improve to ensure that vaccination status is reflected accurately in the GP record similar to other vaccinations given in other settings.

Sex

Those with sex not specified or unknown were removed because of small numbers.

Aged 65 years and over by sex

For those aged 65 years and over, there was comparable (within 1 percentage point difference) vaccine uptake between sexes in this season and the previous season (Figure 7a).

Figure 7a. Influenza vaccine uptake percentage (%) in those aged 65 years and over, by sex, in England for the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season  

 

At-risk patients aged 16 to under 65 years by sex

For this season and previous seasons, data was collected for at-risk patients aged 16 years to under 65 years. The at-risk group includes pregnant women with other risk factors but excludes otherwise ‘healthy’ pregnant women. This season, vaccine uptake in at-risk patients was 8.3 percentage points higher in females than males in England (24.2% compared with 32.5%) (Figure 7b). This does not account for differences caused by the vaccination of pregnant women. The previous season saw a 7.5 percentage point difference between males and females (25.5% compared with 33.0%).

Figure  7b. Influenza vaccine uptake percentage (%) in at-risk patients aged 16 to under 65 years, by sex, in England for the 2024 to 2025 season compared with the 2023 to 2024 season

    

Ethnicity

Trends in ethnicity data are comparable to previous seasons and consistent with the provisional monthly data that was published throughout the season. Ethnicity data was collected for the following groups: adults aged 65 years and over, those aged 16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group, pregnant women and pre-school aged children (aged 2 and 3 years). The data presented in Table 13a, Table 13b, Table 13c and Table 13d is near the final end-of-season data, however end-of-season trends will not differ from what is presented. Ethnicity is coded using the 16+1 ethnic data categories defined in the 2001 census that forms the national mandatory standard for the collection and analysis of ethnicity.

For those aged 65 years and over, 87.4% were recorded with a 2001 code, 11.1% were recorded with no code and 1.0% were recorded with a non-2001 census code. Individuals who refused were recorded at 0.5%, and uptake for those who refused to give their ethnicity data was 62.4%.

For those aged 16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group, 89.6% were recorded with a 2001 code, 8.9% were recorded with no code and 1.1% with a non-2001 census code. Individuals who refused were recorded at 0.5%, and uptake for those who refused to give their ethnicity data was 28.2%.

For pregnant women, 91.3% were recorded with a 2001 code, 7.2% were recorded with no code and 1.1% with a non-2001 census code. Individuals who refused were recorded at 0.4%, and uptake for those who refused to give their ethnicity data was 28.7%.

For pre-school aged children, 90.1% were recorded with a 2001 code, 7.2% were recorded with no code and 2.2% with a non-2001 census code. Individuals who refused were recorded at 0.5%, and uptake for those who refused to give their ethnicity data was 37.1%.

At a national level, the Black and Black British – Caribbean group had the lowest uptake in all 4 groups, but at a regional level (presented in the ethnicity data by region on the ethnicity ranked tab in the accompanying data tables) the group with the lowest uptake varied by region. In the ethnicity ranked tab, regional ethnicity uptake data is presented in ranked descending order. At a national level, the highest uptake for those aged 16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group, as well as those aged 65 years and over, was in the White British group. For the pregnant women and pre-school aged groups, the highest uptake was in the Other ethnic group – Chinese.

For both pregnant women and those aged 65 years and over, all regional data reflected what was seen at the national level with regards to the groups with the highest uptake. However, for the clinical risk group, the White British group had the highest uptake in 4 regions (South West, South East, Midlands, North East and Yorkshire). In the North West and East of England Other ethnic group, Chinese had the highest uptake, with the White British group ranked second. In London, 4 groups (Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi, Asian or Asian British – Any other Asian background, Other ethnic groups – Chinese, Asian or Asian British – Indian) had higher uptake than the White – British group, which was ranked fifth.

Aged 65 years and over by ethnicity

For those aged 65 years and over, when grouped by ethnicity at a national level, only one ethnic group was higher than the national average vaccine uptake of 74.9%, which was White - British (Table 13a). This group was 4.2 percentage points higher than average. The 6 groups with the lowest uptake (ranging from 40.7% to 49.0%) were seen in all of the Black and Mixed Black groups (Black or Black British – Caribbean; Black or Black British – African; Black or Black British: any other Black background; Mixed – White and Black African; Mixed – White and Black Caribbean) and the Asian or Asian British – Pakistani group. All Black and Mixed Black groups had uptake below 49.0%, with percentage point differences below the national average ranging from 34.2 to 48.3 in these groups. The Pakistani ethnic group was 28.5 percentage points lower than average.

At-risk patients aged 16 to under 65 years by ethnicity

For those in clinical risk groups and aged 16 to under 65 years when grouped by ethnicity at a national level, 5 groups had vaccine uptake higher or equivalent to the national average of 39.2%: These were some White (British; Irish), and some Asian (Bangladeshi; Chinese; and any other Asian) groups (Table 13b). The highest uptake was in the White: British group, which was 4.6 percentage points higher than average. The 5 groups with the lowest uptakes (ranging from 21.3% to 26.4%) were in Black and Mixed Black groups (Black or Black British – Caribbean; Mixed – White and Black Caribbean; Black or Black British – Any other Black background) as well as in the Asian or Asian British ethnic group – Pakistani; and White – Other groups. In these 5 groups the percentage point differences below the national average ranged from 12.8 to 17.9.

Pregnant women by ethnicity

For pregnant women, when grouped by ethnicity at a national level, 6 groups had vaccine uptake higher or equivalent than the national average of 35.0% (Table 13c). The highest uptake in the Other ethnic groups – Chinese was 12.7 percentage points higher than average. The other groups reaching above average uptake were some White (British and Irish) and some Asian and Mixed Asian (Asian or Asian British-Indian; any other Asian background: any other Asian background, and Mixed White and Asian) groups. The group with the lowest uptake (Black or Black British-Caribbean) was 19.8 percentage points lower than the national average. The 6 groups with the lowest uptake (ranging from 15.2% to 27.6%) were Black groups (Caribbean; Mixed or Multiple White and Black Caribbean; and any other Black background), and in Asian or Asian British – Pakistani; White – Other;  and those in the Other ethnic group. In these 6 groups, the percentage point differences below the national average ranged from 7.4 to 19.8.

Pre-school children (aged 2 and 3 years) by ethnicity 

For those aged 2 and 3 years, when grouped by ethnicity at a national level, 5 groups had vaccine uptake higher than or equivalent to the national average of 42.6% (Table 13d). The highest uptake in the Other ethnic groups – Chinese was 21.1 percentage points higher than average. The other groups reaching above average uptake were White British and some Asian (Asian or Asian British – Indian; Mixed White and Asian; and any other Asian background) groups. The group with the lowest uptake (Black or Black British – Caribbean) was 26.2 percentage points lower than the national average. The 5 groups with the lowest uptake were Black or Mixed Black groups (Caribbean; Mixed – White and Black Caribbean; and any other Black background),the Asian or Asian British – Pakistani; and the White – Other groups. In these 5 groups, the percentage point differences below the national average ranged from 12.6 to 26.2.

Table 13a. Influenza vaccine uptake in those aged 65 years and over by ethnicity group, in England for the 2024 to 2025 season

Ethnicity Group	Aged 65 years and over number of patients registered	Aged 65 years and over number of patients vaccinated	Aged 65 years and over percentage vaccine uptake
White – British	8,323,089	6,580,136	79.1
White – Irish	98,401	71,285	72.4
White – Other	400,789	226,537	56.5
Mixed – White and Black Caribbean	17,237	8,451	49.0
Mixed – White and Black African	12,516	6,040	48.3
Mixed – White and Asian	12,318	8,017	65.1
Mixed – Any other mixed background	31,023	18,440	59.4
Asian or Asian British – Indian	233,333	150,915	64.7
Asian or Asian British – Pakistani	110,942	51,471	46.4
Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi	31,029	19,112	61.6
Asian or Asian British – Any other Asian background	111,783	70,535	63.1
Black or Black British – Caribbean	86,738	35,328	40.7
Black or Black British – African	91,163	39,708	43.6
Black or Black British – Any other Black background	25,143	11,426	45.4
Other ethnic groups – Chinese	46,437	27,419	59.0
Other ethnic groups – Any other ethnic group	88,034	47,386	53.8
Ethnicity not stated	170,143	111,859	65.7
Ethnicity code not recorded (no code)	1,251,143	876,440	70.1
Ethnicity not given – patient refused	52,146	32,532	62.4
Ethnicity code is a non-2001 ethnicity code	118,382	83,946	70.9
Total	11,311,789	8,476,983	74.9

Table 13b. Influenza vaccine uptake in those aged 16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group by ethnicity group in England for the 2024 to 2025 season

Ethnicity Group	16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group number of patients registered	16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group number of patients vaccinated	16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group percentage vaccine uptake
White – British	5,364,010	2,351,597	43.8
White – Irish	48,398	19,479	40.2
White – Other	505,514	133,426	26.4
Mixed – White and Black Caribbean	45,054	10,518	23.3
Mixed – White and Black African	37,357	10,635	28.5
Mixed – White and Asian	29,326	10,545	36.0
Mixed – Any other mixed background	63,385	19,562	30.9
Asian or Asian British – Indian	293,636	112,679	38.4
Asian or Asian British – Pakistani	288,782	72,640	25.2
Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi	114,270	47,330	41.4
Asian or Asian British – Any other Asian background	185,880	74,406	40.0
Black or Black British – Caribbean	97,346	20,722	21.3
Black or Black British – African	260,443	75,537	29.0
Black or Black British – Any other Black background	66,927	16,441	24.6
Other ethnic groups – Chinese	39,989	16,494	41.2
Other ethnic groups – Any other ethnic group	141,830	40,234	28.4
Ethnicity not stated	149,416	43,770	29.3
Ethnicity code not recorded (no code)	766,514	267,320	34.9
Ethnicity not given – patient refused	41,919	11,801	28.2
Ethnicity code is a non-2001 ethnicity code	91,705	31,522	34.4
Total	8,631,701	3,386,658	39.2

Table 13c. Influenza vaccine uptake in all pregnant women in England by ethnicity group, in England for the 2024 to 2025 season

Ethnicity Group	Pregnant women number of patients registered	Pregnant women number of patients vaccinated	Pregnant women percentage vaccine uptake
White – British	320,160	126,949	39.7
White – Irish	3,264	1,225	37.5
White – Other	58,045	14,969	25.8
Mixed – White and Black Caribbean	4,531	907	20.0
Mixed – White and Black African	4,606	1,418	30.8
Mixed – White and Asian	3,379	1,194	35.3
Mixed – Any other mixed background	7,389	2,268	30.7
Asian or Asian British – Indian	37,885	14,729	38.9
Asian or Asian British – Pakistani	34,614	8,517	24.6
Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi	14,401	4,749	33.0
Asian or Asian British – Any other Asian background	21,141	7,985	37.8
Black or Black British – Caribbean	4,707	716	15.2
Black or Black British – African	31,232	9,301	29.8
Black or Black British – Any other Black background	5,172	1,175	22.7
Other ethnic groups – Chinese	3,642	1,736	47.7
Other ethnic groups – Any other ethnic group	19,953	5,498	27.6
Ethnicity not stated	11,421	3,495	30.6
Ethnicity code not recorded (no code)	46,310	14,863	32.1
Ethnicity not given – patient refused	2,572	738	28.7
Ethnicity code is a non-2001 ethnicity code	7,107	2,219	31.2
Total	641,531	224,651	35.0

Table 13d. Influenza vaccine uptake in those aged 2 and 3 years in England by ethnicity group, in England for the 2024 to 2025 season

Ethnicity Group	2 and 3 year olds number of patients registered	2 and 3 year olds number of patients vaccinated	2 and 3 year olds percentage vaccine uptake
White – British	640,456	309,594	48.3
White – Irish	3,340	1,328	39.8
White – Other	102,437	29,369	28.7
Mixed – White and Black Caribbean	15,176	3,842	25.3
Mixed – White and Black African	11,981	4,565	38.1
Mixed – White and Asian	15,896	7,673	48.3
Mixed – Any other mixed background	30,202	10,923	36.2
Asian or Asian British – Indian	52,243	26,718	51.1
Asian or Asian British – Pakistani	55,154	12,774	23.2
Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi	19,643	6,287	32.0
Asian or Asian British – Any other Asian background	33,264	15,141	45.5
Black or Black British – Caribbean	6,781	1,112	16.4
Black or Black British – African	46,780	19,673	42.1
Black or Black British – Any other Black background	11,263	3,382	30.0
Other ethnic groups – Chinese	4,844	3,086	63.7
Other ethnic groups Any other ethnic group	26,780	12,935	48.3
Ethnicity not stated	26,976	10,340	38.3
Ethnicity code not recorded (no code)	88,970	33,475	37.6
Ethnicity not given – patient refused	6,530	2,421	37.1
Ethnicity code is a non-2001 ethnicity code	34,062	11,067	32.5
Total	1,232,778	525,705	42.6

Deprivation

Vaccine uptake by deprivation is presented below using indices of multiple deprivation (IMD) deciles for the following groups: aged 65 years and over; aged 16 to under 65 years at-risk, and pregnant women. GP postcode is used as a proxy for the IMD of the patients in the practice therefore caution is advised. Vaccinations in these groups all show the same trend where vaccine uptake is highest in the least deprived areas and the lowest uptake in the most deprived areas (Table 14). The largest difference in vaccine uptake by IMD is in pregnant women (Figure 8c). This varies by 12.8 percentage points, compared with 11.7 percentage points in those aged 16 to under 65 years who are at-risk (Figure 8b); and 11.6 percentage points in those aged 65 years and over (Figure 8a).

Trends by IMD are similar across other national immunisation programmes and there is still work to be done to reduce vaccine inequality.

Table 14. Influenza vaccination uptake in those aged 65 years and over, all pregnant women and those aged 16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group and all pregnant women by index of multiple deprivation in England, for the 2024 to 2025 season

IMD	Target group influenza vaccination uptake (%) aged 65 years and over	Target group influenza vaccination uptake (%) aged 16 to under 65 years at-risk	Target group influenza vaccination uptake (%) all pregnant women
1 (most deprived)	68.6	33.8	27.7
2	69.4	35.2	29.0
3	72.6	37.9	32.3
4	73.9	38.8	33.3
5	75.9	40.4	35.4
6	77.0	41.9	36.5
7	77.4	42.3	36.9
8	78.1	43.1	38.6
9	79.0	44.0	39.6
10 (least deprived)	80.2	45.5	40.5

Deprivation by those aged 65 years and over

Figure 8a . Influenza vaccine uptake in those aged 65 years and over in England by index of multiple deprivation in each NHS commissioning region   in England, for the 2024 to 2025 season

Note that 1 to 10 is a scale of IMD with 1 being the most deprived and 10 being the least deprived.

Vaccine uptake by IMD varies by region in those aged 65 years and over (Figure 8a). The largest variation by IMD is seen in the London region where vaccine uptake is 21.8 percentage points lower in the most deprived group compared with the least deprived group. The region with the least variation by IMD was in the South West region with around 8.0 percentage points variation between the least and most deprived groups (Figure 8a).

Deprivation by those at risk and aged 16 to under 65 years

Figure 8b. Influenza vaccine uptake in those aged 16 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group by index of multiple deprivation in each NHS commissioning region in England, for the 2024 to 2025 season

Note that 1 to 10 is a scale of IMD with 1 being the most deprived and 10 being the least deprived.

Vaccine uptake by IMD varies by region in those aged 16 to under 65 years and at risk (Figure 8b). The largest variation by IMD is seen in the Midlands region where vaccine uptake is 14.6 percentage points lower in the most deprived group compared with the least deprived groups. The region with the least variation by IMD was the South East region with around 7.7 percentage points variation between the least and most deprived groups.

Deprivation and pregnant women

Figure 8c. Influenza vaccine uptake in all pregnant women by index of multiple deprivation in each NHS commissioning region in England, for the 2024 to 2025 season

Note that 1 to 10 is a scale of IMD with 1 being the most deprived and 10 being the least deprived.

Vaccine uptake by IMD varies by region in all pregnant women (Figure 8c). The largest variation by IMD is seen in the London region where vaccine uptake is 16.7 percentage points lower in the most deprived group compared with the least deprived group. The region with the least variation by IMD was the South East region with 7.8 percentage points variation between the least and most deprived groups.

Refused or declined vaccinations

This season data has not been published for refused or declined vaccination status due to insufficient data quality.

Vaccine type

Vaccine type was introduced to the GP main survey in 2018 to 2019 as experimental data. This season due to insufficient data quality data is not reported for vaccines used for the adult programme.

For GP patients aged 2 and 3 years, vaccine type was introduced the child survey as experimental data in 2020 to 2021 season.  This season data on vaccine type was available for 97.3% of vaccinated 2 year olds and for 96.6% of vaccinated 3 years olds. Where vaccine type was provided (for 96.9% of GP practices responding), 95.3% of those aged 2 and 3 years who were vaccinated received the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) (Table 15).

Table 15. Influenza vaccine uptake in those aged 2 and 3 years in England from 2020 to 2021 season to 2024 to 2025 season; and the proportion of LAIV vaccinations recorded for this group

IMD	Target group influenza vaccination uptake (%) aged 65 years and over	Target group influenza vaccination uptake (%) aged 16 to under 65 years at-risk	Target group influenza vaccination uptake (%) all pregnant women
1 (most deprived)	68.6	33.8	27.7
2	69.4	35.2	29.0
3	72.6	37.9	32.3
4	73.9	38.8	33.3
5	75.9	40.4	35.4
6	77.0	41.9	36.5
7	77.4	42.3	36.9
8	78.1	43.1	38.6
9	79.0	44.0	39.6
10 (least deprived)	80.2	45.5	40.5

Glossary

At-risk

Patients in clinical risk groups, as listed in Influenza: the green book, chapter 19 - GOV.UK.

Child GP survey

The seasonal influenza vaccination uptake survey that collects all the child group data.

dm+d     

Dictionary of medicines and devices.

Green Book

The Green Book is also known as ‘Immunisation against infectious disease’, a UKHSA publication on vaccines, vaccine-preventable infectious diseases, and vaccination procedures. Chapter 19 refers to influenza.

ImmForm      

ImmForm is a website that provides a secure online platform for vaccine uptake data collection for several immunisation surveys, including the seasonal influenza vaccine uptake collection.

Main GP survey

The seasonal influenza vaccine uptake survey that collects data on all adult groups and children in clinical risk groups.

School-age year

The school-age year is determined by their age on 31 August 2024. This will be correct for the majority of children.

SNOMED CT codes

Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terminology. This is a structured clinical vocabulary for use in electronic health records.

Data sources and methodology

Prior to the start of the seasonal data collection, the seasonal influenza surveillance team produce a data set for the collection. The team commission PRIMIS to write an accompanying coding specification for GP system suppliers (GPSS) to extract the data from GP practices. The PRIMIS specification provides rules for the extraction of the data from GP systems using the following clinical code terminologies: Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terminology (SNOMED CT).

Cumulative data on seasonal influenza vaccine uptake were collected for all GP practices in England between 1 September 2024 to 28 February 2025 using the ImmForm website.

The data collections consist of:

• a weekly sentinel survey using an automated extraction only (XML bulk upload or a web service)

• 5-monthly surveys starting with a collection covering the 1 September 2024 up to the end of September which is then refreshed each month up until the end of February 2025.

GP-practice level data was submitted to the ImmForm website either via an automated extraction provided by GPSS (who extract data directly from GP practice systems) or via manual upload, across England. Automated data extraction results in an almost zero burden on GP practices providing the data. The weekly data allows near ‘real-time’ monitoring of the programme at a national level from calendar week 36 (week ending 9 September 2024) to calendar week 4 (week ending 26 January 2025).  A user guide is available on the ImmForm website.

The vaccine uptake figures reported here are based on the practices which have supplied data. This report includes extrapolated estimates of the total eligible population and the total number vaccinated in each group, if there was a 100% response rate to the survey.

The extrapolated number of vaccinations is derived by multiplying the mean number of vaccinations per practice by the total number of practices. This calculation assumes that the GP-practice population is the same across all practices and that the uptake rate is the same as that seen nationally.

Median calculations are based on sub-ICB level data. There were no configuration changes between ICBs  and sub-ICBs for 2024 to 2025 season.

In the 2021 to 2022 and the 2022 to 2023 seasons an additional survey was added for September. February surveys were introduced as an experimental collection in 2017 to 2018, extending the data collection period by a month to allow for better inclusion of data returning from outside the practice and later in-practice vaccinations. Following the evaluation, the February collection was adopted for the end of season figures. During the 2018 to 2019 season, only automated extractions were expected; however, manual upload was added to the end of February data return from the 2019 to 2020 season.

ImmForm

Influenza vaccine uptake data is submitted via the ImmForm website (data is submitted at GP practice level and can then be aggregated as required to the different hierarchies such as sub-ICB, ICB or local authority. During the season, specific functions were available weekly and monthly on ImmForm to enable local management of the vaccination programme. These functions include the ability to:

• view and evaluate influenza vaccine uptake rates by group and age band for their area down to the GP practice level

• compare GP-practice level data within the sub-ICB and to previous years

• validate data at point of data entry

• download ‘non-responder’ reports to aid local areas following up GP practices that have yet to respond to the survey

Data validation

Data validations are built into the ImmForm website to validate at point of entry. Data is then further validated by the UKHSA influenza surveillance team on a weekly and monthly basis. PRIMIS are commissioned by UKHSA to write the clinical code specification for the surveys and commissioned to conduct 2 data validation reports to check alignment with the clinical code specification.

Data limitations

Denominator data for some localities and at-risk groups should be interpreted with caution due to data validation and data quality issues. A summary of these limitations is provided below.

Further information on definitions and data limitations can be found in the user guide.

Snapshot of influenza vaccine uptake data

Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake data presented in this report is a snapshot of GP-registered patients vaccinated at the time of data extraction. The annual report includes data up until the end of February to allow time for data to flow from other services to the GP record when vaccines are delivered in other settings. Patients who are vaccinated but have not had their electronic patient record updated by the time of data extraction, will be included within the denominator, but will not be included in the count of ‘number vaccinated’. This data will, therefore, not include patients in the numerator or denominator who have received the vaccine but have subsequently died, or changed clinical status (for example, ‘joining’ or ‘leaving’ a clinical risk group), or patients changing carer status, or ‘temporary’ patients who may have received the vaccine but were not registered on the date of data extraction. The extract will also exclude the prison population unless the individuals were registered with a GP practice at the time of data extraction and their vaccination details were recorded on their primary care electronic record. Healthcare workers and social care workers will only be counted in the number vaccinated if they were vaccinated at the GP practice or their vaccination details were entered on their GP practice’s electronic record.

Transition to SNOMED CT

In the 2019 to 2020 season all GPSS in England moved over to SNOMED CT. However, some GPSS are still working with older versions of SNOMED. Because of the transition, mapping errors between SNOMED CT and previous clinical terminologies are being identified and corrected across GPSS but small numbers of mapping issues may remain.  

Despite these data limitations, the granular data is considered valid with a degree of caution, especially when drawing comparisons to historical data where they may be affected by the SNOMED transition.

Clinical coding changes

It is important to note that clinical coding frequency can increase or decrease depending on the coding behaviour of GP practices and other NHS organisations; and the definitions used to extract the data. These changes in coding frequency can be driven by policies such as changes to the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) or the introduction of new initiatives to drive better quality of data through better coding of data. Changes to the coding can greatly affect smaller groups such as the data we collect on individual at-risk groups. We monitor this each year by looking at the prevalence of each risk group within the general population and the at-risk population while considering any wider changes to the health system that may impact the data.

Pregnant women: denominator variance

Determining an accurate denominator for eligible pregnant women is challenging because of the complexities in the way pregnancy is recorded and coded on local clinical systems in primary care. In addition, in recent years, seasonal influenza vaccine for pregnant women has increasingly been delivered through midwifery services and pharmacies (supplementary data Table 16) and so vaccination data needs to flow back to the GP record in the appropriate format to allow capture in the ImmForm collection.

Reported influenza vaccine coverage in pregnant women is likely to be an underestimate for the following reasons:

• the dynamic nature of the denominator with women continually entering and leaving the group throughout the season through conception, miscarriage, abortion, or delivery
• there are multiple ways to record ‘pregnancy’ in the GP record with a range of SNOMED codes available that are not applied consistently
• the delay in updating the individual’s electronic GP clinical record following birth or loss of pregnancy
• delay or gaps in data flows that allow capture of vaccines delivered outside the GP practice

The scale of the underestimation is not clear and could vary between GP practices and regions. For further details of pregnancy data limitations, see the GP survey user guide.

Vaccination in other healthcare settings

The number of individuals vaccinated in a school, pharmacy and other healthcare setting was captured by the survey. It is important to note that the evaluation of vaccines delivered outside of GP practice does not come under an existing information standard therefore the quality of location recording may vary between GP practices and GPSS. In 2024 to 2025, pharmacies were commissioned to administer seasonal influenza vaccinations to:

• any patient aged 18 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group 
• pregnant women 
• carers 
• people living in long-stay residential care homes or other long-stay care facilities 
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

They were also commissioned to administer seasonal influenza vaccinations to frontline health and social care staff employed by:

• a registered residential care or nursing home
• registered domiciliary care provider
• a voluntary managed hospice provider
• direct payment (personal budgets) and/or personal health budgets, such as personal assistants

While the number of vaccinations reported as given in pharmacies can be taken as correct because there is a specific clinical code associated with this, there is likely to be a lag in data being fed back into the GP record.

As expected, vaccination delivered in other healthcare settings is much higher for the pregnant group because of increasing administration by midwifery services. The vast majority of school-aged children are vaccinated in school and therefore in the survey vaccines recorded in these age groups are assumed to be school-delivered in the survey unless specifically coded as ‘vaccinated in a pharmacy’. As data flows from school-aged immunisation services (SAIS) and the Child Health Information Systems (CHIS) to the GP record are not yet well established, vaccination data for the school-aged groups in the GP survey remain experimental. Improved data flows from other healthcare settings to the GP record are important to both reduce the administrative burden on GP practices and ensure timely and accurate vaccine coverage can be reported for all eligible groups. Results for the LAIV programme in primary school-aged children will be available in a separate report based on manual returns from local NHS teams. See also seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in children of school age: winter season 2024 to 2025.

Vaccine type

Vaccine type can be coded using dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d) codes and SNOMED CT codes. All GPSS in England have now moved over to SNOMED CT clinical terminology. Vaccine type was introduced to the GP survey in the 2018 to 2019 season and the experimental data collected thus far show that this information is not routinely recorded in the required coded format to allow extraction. The information is likely to be recorded in the GP record as free text and therefore not extractable using a clinical code specification. We expect this variable to become better recorded in the future.

Social care workers

Vaccine uptake in social care workers was included for the first time in the 2019 to 2020 data collection. The SNOMED CT codes for this workforce were introduced on 1 April 2018 but appear to be a poorly applied in the GP record therefore the denominator estimate in the survey is not currently reliable.

There are a range of options for employers offering the vaccine to social care workers which makes this group particularly difficult to evaluate. Only a minority will get vaccinated through their GP practice. Data flows for vaccinations delivered to social care workers outside of the GP setting are not well established, therefore, caution should be used when interpreting the data.

Learning disability

Vaccine uptake in those with wider learning disabilities including severe learning disability as a subset of this group was included for the first time in the 2020 to 2021 season as an experimental group and continues to be included in the 2024 to 2025 season. The clinical coding specification is defined within the PRIMIS specification. The clinical codes related to severe learning disability are also still included within the chronic neurological disease clinical risk group and therefore comparable to previous years. Please note that those who have a wider learning disability with no other clinical risk group are not included in the overall at-risk category data.

Background information

The purpose of the seasonal influenza immunisation programme in England is to offer protection to those who are most at risk of serious illness or death should they develop influenza.

In 2012, the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) recommended the implementation of a universal childhood influenza vaccine programme with LAIV. The childhood LAIV programme was introduced in 2013 to 2014 and progressively expanded across year groups in a phased implementation. In the 2024 to 2025 season, LAIV was offered to all those aged 2 and 3 years through primary care. It was also offered through a largely school-based programme to primary school-aged children (reception to year 6) and secondary school-aged children (years 7 to 11). The aim of the childhood programme is to both directly protect children and reduce influenza transmission. This provides indirect protection to the rest of the population, including those at increased risk of the severe consequences of influenza infection.

NHS England, through ICBs and regional public health commissioning teams, has responsibility for commissioning the influenza programme with general practices, midwives, and other healthcare professionals. Immunisation managers and coordinators in NHS teams play a significant role in delivery within their ICBs (and previously Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STP) boundaries).

GP practices provide monthly coverage data between September and February, with most practices providing this through automated uploads from their electronic clinical systems. For 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023, an additional collection was published in October (for all vaccination activity between 1 and 30 September). This was not continued from 2023 to 2024 onwards. Automated extraction provides near-complete data, with many practices also contributing data weekly, and gives consistent data for comparisons over time. The UKHSA influenza surveillance team has responsibility for collating the data and reporting on the progress in the uptake of the seasonal influenza vaccine. The ImmForm website enables the monitoring, tracking and reporting on provisional vaccine uptake on a weekly and monthly basis during the influenza season.

The seasonal influenza vaccine uptake survey in GP-registered patients was first split into the ‘main GP Survey’ and the ‘child GP survey’ in the 2017 to 2018 season. Data presented in this report and accompanying tables is for the end-of-season data, up to the end of February in England.

The data counts the cumulative number of GP-registered patients who have had at least one dose of influenza vaccine from 1 September 2024 to 28 February 2025. The survey does not include vaccinations given to patients who have since moved practice or who have died, but does include those vaccinated by another healthcare provider (provided the GP patient electronic record is updated). This end-of-season report provides the final seasonal influenza vaccine uptake figures in GP-registered patients. This data is collated for public health surveillance purposes only and this system is not designed to support GP-practice payments.

The programme for 2024 to 2025 was announced in the annual flu letter jointly issued to the NHS by UKHSA, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE) on 12 March 2024 (with an amendment published on 12 June 2024 outlining an expansion of the programme). In March 2024 it was recommended that influenza vaccine be offered to:

• all children aged 2 and 3 years

• all children of school age in years reception to year 6 (aged 4 years rising to 10 years)

• secondary school-aged children (year 7 to year 11) (aged 11 years rising to 16 years)

• those aged 65 years and over

• those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups

• pregnant women

• those in long-stay residential care homes

• carers (as defined in Influenza: the green book, chapter 19)

• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

• frontline health and social care staff

The letter also advised on changing the timing of programme delivery in most adults. This was based on the evidence that seasonal influenza vaccine’s effectiveness can wane over time in adults. The JCVI therefore advised moving the start of the programme for most adults to the beginning of October. This was on the understanding that the majority of the vaccinations would be completed by the end of November, closer to the time that the influenza season commonly starts. It is preferable to vaccinate individuals closer to the time when the flu virus is likely to circulate (which typically peaks in December or January), as this will provide optimal protection during the highest risk period. As flu circulation in children normally precedes that in adults, the Committee agreed that 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. It was also advised that all frontline health care workers, including both clinical and non-clinical staff who have contact with patients, should be offered seasonal influenza vaccine from October.

The national vaccine uptake ambition for 2024 to 2025 was to demonstrate a 100% offer and to achieve equal or above the uptake levels of 2023 to 2024 for each groups.

Further information and contact details

You are welcome to contact us directly by emailing influenza@ukhsa.gov.uk with any feedback you may have about this report and data.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank everyone that contributed to the data collection, specifically:

• all those who participated in and supported the influenza vaccine uptake collection (GP patient survey), principally GP practice data providers, NHSE regional public health commissioning teams, screening and immunisation teams and screening and immunisation influenza coordinators in England

• the participation of GP IT system suppliers and third-party suppliers in providing the reporting tools and services for their customers; in particular EMIS and TPP, who enabled automated extracts of data

• the participation of the PRIMIS team based in Nottingham, which was commissioned to provide the SNOMED CT Codes specification for this collection

• the ImmForm helpdesk and development team that provided and supported the online survey

Official statistics

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

UKHSA is committed to ensuring that these statistics comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics. This means users can have confidence in the people who produce UKHSA statistics because our statistics are robust, reliable and accurate. Our statistics are regularly reviewed to ensure they support the needs of society for information.

UKHSA has conducted a formal review of these statistics. Following this review, an implementation plan has been developed to continue to improve the trustworthiness, quality, and value of these statistics. Key continuous improvements made will be highlighted within future releases of these statistics for transparency.