Staff writer Alia Elanani discusses the early flu season taking over the UK this year and the reasons students should get vaccinated.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the 2026 flu season likely began earlier this year than in previous years, with 18- to 24-year-olds as the main affected demographic.
Although it feels like London’s had a longer period of warm weather this year, compared to the usual start to autumn. The flu season may be arriving earlier than expected.
There is no clear correlation which indicates why the season began earlier than in previous years, the UKHSA states flu activity this September has been greater than in past winters, though remaining relatively low.
Influenza A is the virus responsible for the yearly flu season.
Two influenza A subtypes, H1N1 and H3N2, are currently spreading throughout England and as flu viruses are always changing, H1N1 has already drifted from the strain targeted by vaccines.
Flu trends also seem to be driven by illness in 18- to 24-year-olds, which is hardly surprising if you’ve been in lectures this past week. Evidence suggests that the coughs and sniffles emanating through lecture theatres have not been solely down to the freshers’ flu (a collection of different kinds of viruses), but a wider trend in the flu season this year.
Based on the NHS Flu Guide, flu symptoms can include things like a high temperature, a dry cough or a sore throat.
The NHS guide offers practical advice, like drinking plenty of water, stay home to prevent further spread, and contact your GP or NHS 111 if you feel extremely unwell, and more on managing the flu and clearly states that the vaccine can help protect you against illness.
The flu vaccine can be an invaluable public health tool to prevent winter illness; per last year’s UK epidemiological report on influenza, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 104,000 hospital admissions and 7,100 deaths.
The vaccine is not perfect and the flu strains tend to evolve and drift from the strains targeted by the vaccine. Even so, it prevents a significant amount of illness and death each year.
Furthermore, the flu tends to spread in settings with a lot of close contact. 98 of the confirmed outbreaks were in educational settings, compared with the 1056 which were in care homes. The report does not elaborate further, but it can be inferred that university campuses, student accommodation and large gatherings may also be common places for the flu to spread.
If eligible, you can receive the flu vaccine for free through the NHS at GP surgeries or participating pharmacies, including Boots.
Eligibility criteria list people aged 65 and over, under-65s in a clinical risk group, pregnant women, carers and frontline health and social care workers.
Adults who are not eligible for the free vaccine can pay to get one; Boots offers the vaccine for £21.95.
The national flu immunisation programme letter this year advises that the adult flu jab programme start in October, as the flu will likely peak in December or January. Getting the jab in the early winter season provides optimal protection.
How the flu season will unfold is still uncertain, with the UKHSA stressing that the levels remain low. Many signs are pointing to an earlier start, and the rise is being driven by people our age, so it is worth taking seriously, for our own sake and that of those more vulnerable.
For students, the steps should be easy: know the symptoms, check if you are eligible for a free jab or if you are able to pay for one, it is better to get vaccinated now before the season is in full swing.
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