The move came after the rate of flu vaccinations fell from 74% in 2019/20 to just 37.8% in 2024/25.

A letter from NHS leaders has called on NHS trusts to improve uptake by at least 5 percentage points compared to last year with uptake monitored in the Federated Data Platform.

Vaccine uptake has varied widely between trusts with the best performing trusts vaccinating about two-thirds, compared to around 1 in 8 in those with the lowest rates.

NHS leaders have instructed every trust to have a named executive lead (or leads) with responsibility for winter preparedness and staff vaccination, ensuring there is an accessible, convenient vaccination offer available to all staff from Wednesday 1 October to Tuesday 31 March.

A range of materials have been made available to encourage uptake, including a  communications toolkit, materials and top tips available on the Campaign Resource Centre.

A series of virtual sessions on sharing best practice for communications and operational and clinical leads is being held from 11 September.