Hywel Dda reports early flu outbreaks and urges at-risk groups to get vaccinated

Hywel Dda University Health Board says outbreaks of flu have already been seen in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire this autumn, and is urging people in at-risk groups to attend their vaccine appointments.

Who is advised to have the vaccine

The health board advises a flu vaccine for children aged two to three (age on 31 August 2026), school pupils from reception to year 11, pregnant women and people aged 65 or over. It also covers people aged six months to 64 with a long-term health condition that raises their risk from flu. Care home residents and staff, health and social care workers, unpaid carers, domiciliary carers, people who are homeless and those working with poultry, cattle or swine at high risk are also on the list. The board says people should attend even if they feel healthy, because complications are more likely if they catch flu.

Where the invitation comes from

An appointment may come from a GP surgery, the health board's Immunisation Team or a community pharmacy. The School Nursing Team offers the vaccine to pupils, and the board says Hywel Dda was the best performing health board in Wales for this age group in 2025/26. People with a question about an appointment are asked to use the contact details on their invite letter. The Communication Hub is on 0300 303 8322 (Option 1), where the board suggests using the call-back function, or at ask.hdd@wales.nhs.uk with full name, date of birth, postcode and the name of the vaccine.

Uptake last winter

More than 100,000 people who were either aged 16 to 64 in an at-risk group or aged 65 or over received a free vaccine in the area last winter. Around 40% of eligible people in those groups did not. Bethan Lewis, the board's Assistant Director of Public Health Strategic Business and Operations, said over 70% of people aged over 65 in the Hywel Dda area had the vaccine last year, but fewer than half of those aged 16 to 64 who are at greater risk did. She said Public Health Wales data estimates more than 800 flu-related hospital admissions were avoided across Wales last winter. "The early outbreaks we have seen already this autumn show how important it is to get that added protection as early as possible," she said.