As per reports, as of Saturday (22 November), health authorities in Essex urged eligible residents to receive their flu vaccine as influenza cases continue to rise ahead of the Christmas period. More than 240,000 flu vaccination appointments are available across the East of England at General Practitioner (GP) surgeries, pharmacies, and walk-in services, including mobile vaccination vans.

According to National Health Service (NHS) England-East of England, flu cases have arrived unusually early this year and remain on the rise. Officials warned that many eligible individuals are still unvaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to severe illness. The flu vaccine typically takes two weeks to become fully effective, prompting authorities to encourage residents to get vaccinated as soon as possible.