Many people who are at risk of becoming seriously ill if they catch flu have not yet been vaccinated against it. The number of pensioners who have received the vaccination has fallen compared to last year.
Health Officials are to launch a new website called Winterwatch to offer winter related information in a campaign to encourage at-risk groups to get vaccinated.
– Health Secretary Jeremy HuntEach year, the cold weather is responsible for an increase in deaths and thousands of cases of flu, falls, heart attacks and strokes. In past years, these extra pressures have cost the NHS £42 million in emergency admissions alone."
Figures show that by the end of last week 48.9 per cent of patients aged 65 or older had the flu jab, compared to 54.8 per cent in 2011.
Just 28.7 per cent of patients with other medical complications, including asthma, heart disease, liver disease and diabetes, had been vaccinated compared to 32.2 per cent last year.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said around 4,700 people die every year in England after getting flu.
Many people who are at risk of becoming seriously ill if they catch flu have not yet been vaccinated against it.
The number of pensioners who have received the vaccination has fallen compared to last year.
And the number of other "at risk" patients, who are under the age of 65 and suffer from various medical complications, has also decreased.