Fiducia TogetherFlu
Also called Influenza, Seasonal flu
Not a bad cold. It kills thousands in the UK most winters, and the vaccine is the whole point of this entry.
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your health or someone else's, speak to a GP, pharmacist, or call 111. In an emergency, call 999.
What it is
Calling flu a bad cold is the reason people do not take the vaccine.
Influenza causes an estimated several thousand deaths in England in an average winter, and considerably more in a bad one. Almost all of those deaths are in older people, people with long-term conditions, and pregnant women.
It also causes secondary pneumonia, which is often what actually kills.
The vaccine is free for everybody at risk and for health and care staff. Uptake among frontline social care staff is persistently low, and staff are one of the main routes flu enters a care home.
Signs you might notice
Sudden onset, which distinguishes it from a cold that builds over days.
Fever, aching muscles, exhaustion, headache, dry cough.
Feeling too unwell to carry on with normal activity, which colds rarely cause.
In older people it may present atypically: confusion, a fall, or simply going off their feet, sometimes without a high temperature.
Breathlessness, chest pain or confusion means complications and needs assessment.
How it can affect day-to-day life
An outbreak in a care setting is a serious event. It spreads fast among a vulnerable population, and it disables the staff who would otherwise be caring for them.
Antivirals work but only if started early, within 48 hours of symptoms, which means recognising it quickly rather than waiting.
Post-viral fatigue after flu can last weeks, and in older people a bout of flu frequently marks a permanent step down in function.
Supporting someone well
Take the vaccine, and if you work in care, take it for the people you support rather than for yourself. This is the single most useful action in this entry.
Recognise flu early in vulnerable people so antivirals can be started within 48 hours. Atypical presentation is the norm, so treat new confusion or a fall in winter as possible flu.
Isolate and use good hand hygiene during an outbreak, and report outbreaks to the local health protection team.
Keep fluids up and monitor for deterioration.
Get people up and moving during recovery to limit deconditioning.
Where to get help
Free NHS vaccination for eligible groups from GPs and pharmacies from autumn each year.
Call 111 for advice, or 999 for severe breathlessness, chest pain or confusion.
Care settings should have an outbreak plan and know their local health protection contact.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your health or someone else's, speak to a GP, pharmacist, or call 111. In an emergency, call 999.