The flu season has started early this year. Doctors are predicting a rise in cases, with hundreds of thousands possibly having Christmas ruined by flu. GP consultations for flu-like illness were up by a quarter to 7,500 visits in the week ending 8 December. Grandparents visiting grandchildren could be particularly at risk. Children are ‘super-spreaders’ of flu, and the elderly can develop complications if they catch it. While more over-65s are having a free flu jab this year, coverage among two- to three-year-olds is lagging behind previous seasons, following delivery delays of nasal flu vaccine. These have now been resolved, but some school flu programmes will not begin until January. Experts are urging anyone who has not yet had their vaccination to do so.