New figures show fewer Mendip residents considered vulnerable had been vaccinated against the flu by the end of 2022 than a year earlier.

The resurgence of flu this winter has meant the NHS has seen a continued rise in flu inpatients, which have soared to their highest this winter.

People aged over 65, clinically at-risk under-65s, pregnant women and two to three-year-olds are encouraged to get the flu jab as they are at higher risk of complications from the virus.

UK Health Security Agency figures show 169,471 in these groups in Somerset had received the jab up to the end of December.

It meant 69.4% of the 244,353 patients at higher risk from flu registered at GP surgeries in the area were vaccinated by this point – down from 72.3% at the same point last winter.

However, this is above the vaccination level seen before the coronavirus pandemic – 61.7% received the jab by the end of December 2019.

The flu vaccination rate has been falling as flu infections have rocketed throughout the winter.

NHS England said lower vaccination rates were not to blame for the rise in flu numbers, instead attributing it to increased infection in the community following two winters of reduced activity during the pandemic.

Fewer adults in Somerset have received a vaccination this winter, while the number of children vaccinated has also dropped.

Some 48.7% of registered two and three-year-olds in the area had received a flu jab by the end of December, down from 53% last winter but above 44.3% in December 2019.

An NHS spokesperson urged pregnant women, parents of young children and those at risk to receive the jab this winter.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: "There has been a dramatic increase in hospital admissions for flu and we are seeing the highest levels of hospital admissions we've seen in at least a decade. There are currently over 5,000 hospital beds a day taken up by flu patients, compared to just 50 this time last year.

"This week, I have visited hospitals and emergency departments to see first-hand the operational action taking place to ensure patients are receiving the right care and I continue to work closely with NHS England to prioritise this issue.

"We are already taking action with up to £14.1 billion additional funding in the autumn statement over the next two years to improve urgent and emergency care, with an extra £500 million to help get fit people out of hospital quicker, freeing up beds and getting ambulances back on the roads.

"If you are eligible, the best thing you can do to protect yourself and ease pressure on the NHS is to join the 19.9 million people that have had their vaccine".

Those eligible for the flu jab include all people aged 50 and over, health and social care workers, people aged six months and over and considered "at risk" due to another medical condition, as well as pregnant women and children aged two and three.

Children are able to receive their vaccination via a nasal spray and are encouraged to get the vaccine to not only protect themselves but reduce transmissions to others at risk.

Flu cases in hospital jumped up by almost a half (47%) last week, as staff in NHS 111 answered a near record number of calls.