Flu cases are rising across the UK, but how can we protect vulnerable family members and neighbours from the infection and loneliness? Our LSHTM expert explains.
The number of patients treated in hospital for flu over the past week has risen by 55%, according to new data from the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published 11 December 2025.
High cases of influenza, more commonly referred to as flu, have been recorded a month earlier than expected across the UK and eligible adults are being urged to get their vaccine as soon as possible for maximum protection.
Professor Punam Mangtani at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) recently explained why cases are rising so rapidly and why it's important to still get the vaccine each year.
But how can we help support vulnerable family members, neighbours and patients to access their vaccine and stay safe, without isolating them? Professor Shereen Hussein, Professor of Health and Social Care Policy at LSHTM, who has strived for more than 20 years to bring the experiences of social care workers and their patients to the forefront of healthcare decision-making, explains.
Should I be worried about the rise in flu cases across the UK?
The rise in flu admissions will understandably be alarming, but the phrase 'super flu' risks obscuring what really matters: supporting those most vulnerable, particularly older people and those receiving care at home or in care homes.
What we learned during COVID-19 is that social care is not a peripheral sector in a health crisis; it is central. Yet it is often absent from headlines and national planning. Our recent NIHR research on care homes shows that infection-control measures, while necessary, can come with very real human costs if implemented without adequate support.
What can I do to protect myself and others from flu?
Vaccination remains the most effective protection for high-risk groups. Alongside this, the familiar measures still matter. Staying home when unwell, hand and respiratory hygiene, improving ventilation in indoor spaces and wearing a mask in crowded places or when visiting someone vulnerable.
These actions are especially important for care homes, where staff already carry significant emotional labour and organisational strain. Our research shows that during crises they act as frontline change agents, often filling gaps left by systemic underfunding and fragmented guidance.
How can I help support my elderly or vulnerable relative or neighbour?
With flu circulating at unusually high levels, families can take simple but impactful steps: checking in more frequently with older relatives or neighbours, helping them arrange vaccination, and taking precautions such as staying away when unwell or wearing a mask during visits. These actions protect both individuals and the already stretched care workforce.
Regular check-ins, whether by phone or in person, are one of the most effective ways to protect older and more vulnerable people during a winter virus surge. The new WHO global report shows that one in six people worldwide experience loneliness, and this has measurable impacts on physical and mental health. Maintaining social connection is therefore not an optional extra; it is a core part of keeping people well.
How can I arrange support for a vulnerable relative or neighbour to get a vaccine?
The most straightforward routes are booking an appointment through their GP surgery or a local pharmacy. Many pharmacies offer walk-in appointments. You can help with transport, reminders or waiting with them to reduce anxiety.
I'm worried that hospitals are too busy - should I still ring if I need help?
It is crucial that no one should delay seeking care because they feel like a burden. If someone has severe breathlessness, chest pain, sudden confusion or is getting markedly worse, that requires urgent assessment.
My vulnerable relative lives in a care home - will they have infection measures in place?
Care homes have extensive infection-prevention protocols and will be stepping these up, including enhanced cleaning, careful grouping of staff and residents during outbreaks, ensuring high vaccine uptake, and encouraging staff or visitors with symptoms to stay away.
But our research shows that care homes often receive guidance that is late, inconsistent or poorly tailored to the realities of social care settings. Staff are then left to interpret and implement policies without adequate support, which creates moral distress and can undermine both infection control and residents' experience.
Care homes are also deeply aware of the dangers of social isolation. The WHO global review highlights that social disconnection can degrade health, and our NIHR findings show exactly how damaging prolonged isolation can be for residents' emotional, cognitive and physical wellbeing.
Families should expect homes to balance safety with connection. This includes maintaining visits where possible, supporting digital communication and enabling meaningful contact with appropriate precautions.
Should I isolate from vulnerable relatives or neighbours this holiday period?
Loneliness is one of the most significant but least acknowledged health risks facing older adults, especially during periods of heightened infection concern. The WHO Commission report identifies loneliness as a major public health challenge with wide-ranging health impacts, including increased mortality risk.
Our NIHR research during the pandemic showed how quickly residents' wellbeing deteriorated when social connections were restricted, and how profoundly this affected both residents and staff, who often felt morally distressed enforcing rules that conflicted with their caregiving values.
This Christmas, safe connection should be the priority. Short but frequent visits, good ventilation, wearing a mask if you have mild symptoms or have been recently unwell, and using phone or video calls if an in-person visit is not safe. We can protect people from flu infections and from loneliness. Both are essential to health and dignity.
Listen to the LSHTM Viral podcast with Professor Punam Mangtani discussing the winter flu season
