Around 4.3m people had received the flu vaccine as of the end of September, up by 28% on the same period last year.

Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: ‘Vaccination is a crucial part of our efforts to protect the vulnerable and prepare for what we expect to be a very challenging winter, so I'm delighted to see this big increase in the numbers of people getting vaccinated at this stage.

‘It is all the more vital as data shows viruses are beginning to increase, with our teams working extremely hard to make it as easy as possible to get vaccinated at your local GP practice, pharmacy, school or other community clinic.'

UKHSA latest data shows flu positivity increased from 1.9% to 3.3% and Covid positivity in hospital settings increased from 11.7% in the previous week to 12.9%.

More than a million people have also received the Covid vaccine.

Since the start of September, vaccination teams have been rolling out flu vaccines to pregnant women and children through GP practices, maternity services and via schools.

Eligibility for the Covid vaccine changed for this autumn and winter following the JCVI recommendation that it should be offered to people aged 75 or over, anyone with a weakened immune system, or those living in older adult care homes.

Pharmacists have voiced frustration this month, however, after ineligible people arrived in large numbers for vaccination after using the NHS booking system.