Seasonal influenza (flu) is an unpredictable but recurring pressure that the NHS faces every winter. Vaccination offers the best protection.

Each year the NHS prepares for the unpredictability of flu. For most healthy people, flu is an unpleasant but usually self-limiting disease with recovery generally within a week.

However, there is a particular risk of severe illness from catching flu for:

• older people
• the very young
• pregnant women
• those with underlying disease, such as chronic respiratory or cardiac disease
• those who are immunosuppressed

Find out more about this season's programme here.