Lib Dems call for vaccinations in churches and pubs to tackle “flu emergency” as hospitalisations rise by 55% in one week
EMBARGO: Immediate release
Amid surging rates of flu admission, which threatens to devastate the NHS, the Liberal Democrats have called for an emergency vaccination scheme to be rolled out in community venues across England, with outreach programmes to tackle disinformation. An average of 2659 patients were in hospital beds with flu each day last week, up from 1717 the week before and up from 1724 at the same point last year.
The scheme would see flu jabs offered in village halls, supermarkets, churches and social clubs, along with dedicated roaming “jab vans”. It would call upon people who volunteered in the pandemic to help put jabs in arms.
Analysis by the Kings Fund has shown that such an approach, focused on community venues and outreach, delivers the highest levels of uptake for adult vaccines.
The campaign comes as Lib Dem analysis shows that rates of flu vaccination among over 65s fell in every local authority in the country between 2023-4 and 2024-5. NHS figures published today have confirmed the rate has fallen even further this year. The party has described the decline as “the Farage effect” following a stream of disinformation from Reform politicians on vaccines and medicines.
A Reform speaker at their party conference said it was “highly likely” cases of cancer in the royal family were the result of their vaccines, while Nigel Farage has come under fire for his attacks on medical science, including defending claims that paracetamol is linked to autism.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said:
“This must be treated as a national emergency. Without bold action our NHS will be at crisis point this winter. Our A&Es were already totally overwhelmed before the flu surge, with vulnerable patients waiting days to be admitted at A&E.
“We have to get more jabs in arms to prevent disaster in our NHS. With Reform politicians and other conspiracy theorists spreading dangerous anti-vax nonsense, this emergency scheme could not be more urgent.
“Liberal Democrats are calling for vaccines to be offered in community spaces across the country - from pubs to churches to protect vulnerable communities and protect our NHS from breaking point as we head further into the winter months.”
Notes to editors:
Flu data can be found in the UEC daily sitrep here
The 2024 equivalent is here
A similar, highly effective approach was taken for covid in Gloucestershire https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/reports/approaches-vaccine-delivery-gloucestershire
The cost of the package would be £25m.
The analysis of falling vaccine rates for over 65s between 2023/4 and 2024/5 can be found here.
The rate of vaccination has continued to fall this year among over 65s, from 71.4% at this point in 2024 to 70.9% this year. You can compare the figures for 2024 and 2025using the links.
