Families should book their flu jabs this week to avoid the 'real risk' of vulnerable relatives getting sick over Christmas, the Health Secretary has said.
The NHS has been battling a 'tidal wave' of winter bugs, with doctors complaining patients are already having to be treated in corridors amid low capacity.
Wes Streeting last night launched an urgent appeal to the public to come forward and get a jab amid a 'flumageddon' surge.
He told the MoS: 'The tidal wave of flu we've seen so far this year is crashing against an already broken NHS. More than four times as many patients have been hospitalised compared to last year, and admissions are rising fast. 'No one wants to be separated from their family and stuck in hospital at Christmas. There's a real risk that people take flu home to their loved ones this year. 'I'm appealing to Mail on Sunday readers to protect yourself, your family and the NHS, by getting vaccinated. 'Time is running out, so make sure you book your appointment before Thursday, so you can safely enjoy Christmas with your family.'
There has been an early start to the flu season, with the number in hospital with the virus four times higher than at this time last year.
Thursday marks the last day people can book flu vaccination appointments on the NHS online booking system, NHS App or 119 phone service.
NHS data shows almost 1,900 patients were hospitalised with flu every day last week in England on average. This is up from an average of 1,100 in the previous week and is 3.5 times more patients than the same time last year.
Flu jab catch-up clinics are being held in schools to stop the spread. The UK Health Security Agency has urged families in the West Midlands to take up the vaccines as data shows many children are still unprotected.
Conservative health spokesman Edward Argar last night called for 'immediate steps to boost bed capacity over this winter'. Health service chiefs warned of a potential 'quad-demic', with rising cases of flu, Covid, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the stomach bug norovirus.
Those who do develop symptoms have been urged to minimise contact with high-risk groups, including people over the age of 65 and pregnant women.
Dr Alexander Allen, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, said: 'If you are showing symptoms of flu or Covid-19 such as a high temperature, cough and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable.'
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who chairs the health and social care committee, said: 'The high number of flu cases is bad news both for patients and the NHS. Winter flu, and other seasonal viruses, increase the pressure on the already stretched NHS.'
There has been an early start to the flu season, with the number in hospital with the virus four times higher than at this time last year.
Flu, or influenza, is responsible for about 40,000 hospitalisations and more than 10,000 deaths in the UK every year.
Mr Streeting said: 'We are doing everything we can to make sure patients are cared for this winter.
'We've ended the strikes so that NHS staff are on the front line not the picket line for the first winter in three years, and we've already delivered almost 28million vaccinations.'
The flu jab does not provide complete protection against the virus, but reduces the risk of dangerous symptoms and infection.
Penny Ward, visiting professor in pharmaceutical medicine at King's College, London, said:'Looking at the numbers of people being hospitalised, it's clear the kick-off rate is much steeper this year. A well matched flu vaccine should provide around 60 to 70 per cent protection from hospitalisation.'