Britain is planning the “biggest flu vaccination programme in history” to save the NHS this winter, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.
Millions more doses have been ordered as ministers consider rolling it out to swathes of the population at greater risk.
It comes as a government report today reveals a second wave of Covid-19 could be worse than the first and cause 120,000 deaths.
Currently the flu jab is offered to children, over-65s, pregnant women and people with certain medical conditions.
After years of falling take-up, ministers fear a bad flu season and Covid-19 could overwhelm the NHS.
Mr Hancock told the National Pharmacy Association: “We are expecting high demand.”
Reports earlier this month suggested 10 million extra doses could be given to at-risk groups.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for it to be given to everyone over 50 while Sage advisers suggest vaccinating the “entire population”.
A flu outbreak would make Covid-19 contact tracing harder as symptoms can be similar while other health conditions can worsen in cold weather.
In a report commissioned by chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, the Academy of Medical Sciences modelled a “reasonable worst case scenario” with a Covid peak next January and February worse than the first.
The R rate–the average number of people a patient passes the virus to – is now below 1, down from 3 in Spring.
Researchers estimate if it rises to 1.7m from September the UK could face 120,000 Covid-19 hospital deaths.
Prof Azra Ghani, of Imperial College London, said this would occur if only “limited action” is taken to curb local outbreaks.
Experts admit R rising to 1.7 is “unlikely”. A Government spokesman stressed the report is “not a prediction”, adding: “Thanks to the nation’s collective efforts, the virus is being brought under control.”
