Flu deaths in Scotland hit a 45-year high

Data from the National Records of Scotland analysed by Asthma + Lung UK Scotland

Released on 16th April 2025

Data from the National Records of Scotland, analysed by leading health charity Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, show that a record number of people have died from flu in the first 14 weeks of the year, with 2025 set to reach the highest numbers of flu deaths since 1979.1

Hospitals across Scotland struggled to cope with a large influx of people being admitted due to flu this winter, and now these new statistics reveal just how severe the impact was.

Asthma + Lung UK Scotland is calling on the Scottish Government to take action to help prevent flu deaths, after analysis shows that so far this year there have been 463 deaths where flu was the underlying cause.

  • The number of deaths in the first 14 weeks of this year has nearly doubled compared to the same period in 2024
  • So far in 2025, there have been 463 deaths where flu was the underlying cause (and 567 where flu was mentioned on the death certificate).

Flu deaths are at a record high when looking between 1979-2025 (45 years) – both underlying cause and mentioned on death certificate.

Information from Public Health Scotland shows that overall flu vaccinations this winter are down by a fifth compared to the previous winter, with over 350,000 fewer vaccines administered. In 2023/24, almost 1.65 million people received a flu vaccine, with numbers falling to under 1.3 million in winter 2024/25.2

When broken down, there has been a significant fall in those from the poorest quintile (24%), those aged 18-64 at risk (21%) and health care (13%) and social care (31%) workers. For ages 65 to 74, the rate of vaccinations this winter is 69% of all those eligible, down from 76% the year before.

If you or your child have flu and a lung condition, ask for an urgent GP appointment or contact 111. It’s important to get the right support, as you’re more at risk of becoming seriously ill from flu, or needing to go to hospital, if you have a lung condition.

Having flu can increase the chance of you having an asthma attack, or a flare-up of your lung condition. You’re also at risk of getting a chest infection after having flu.

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, said:

“We knew that flu was particularly bad this winter, but these statistics are truly shocking. With the worst flu seasons in recent years, we saw hospitals across Scotland at breaking point but now is the time for practical long-term solutions.

“We need to learn from this devastating winter and vaccinate far more people. Removing the 50–65-year-old group from being eligible for the flu jab removed almost half a million people from the list, and sent the wrong message that flu was less serious.

“We would urge the Scottish Government to offer free flu vaccines to 50-64-year-olds as happened in Northern Ireland this year. Vaccinating more people will not only reduce the spread of flu but will also help to protect the most vulnerable as well easing the enormous pressures on the NHS.

“The fact that people with lung conditions are seven times more likely to die if they catch flu compared to healthy adults means we also need better year-round care for people with chronic lung conditions to help stop hospital admissions.3

“With the Respiratory Care Action Plan (RCAP) coming to an end, the Scottish Government needs to develop a new fully funded strategy to prevent, diagnose and treat people living with lung conditions like COPD and asthma.

“Deepening health inequalities is also an issue, with Scotland’s poorest communities seeing higher mortality rates associated with lung conditions than the more affluent .”4

Reference

Underlying cause means the person died of flu, mentioned on death certificate means the person had flu when they died but it wasn’t the cause of death.

  1. Deaths registered weekly in Scotland, National Records of Scotland. Accessed here.
  Flu mentioned on death certificate Flu underlying cause  
Year First 14 weeks Year Total First 14 weeks Year Total  
1979 39 80 34 58  
1980 41 142 34 117  
1981 38 69 32 56  
1982 233 280 210 234  
1983 202 235 166 178  
1984 34 83 23 59  
1985 38 80 26 51  
1986 130 155 114 124  
1987 46 56 29 36  
1988 13 34 11 25  
1989 14 563 15 457  
1990 82 164 117 126  
1991 20 40 15 28  
1992 33 38 26 29  
1993 25 167 15 127  
1994 9 16 8 11  
1995 6 40 5 33  
1996 22 45 30 38  
1997 90 103 87 90  
1998 7 16 7 12  
1999 50 86 46 62  
2000 156 159 129 131  
2001 6 8 4 5  
2002 7 9 5 6  
2003 2 17 2 15  
2004 3 5 2 3  
2005 10 12 9 11  
2006 2 2 2 2  
2007 6 6 5 5  
2008 3 10 3 8  
2009 14 72 12 64  
2010 9 14 8 12  
2011 61 61 54 54  
2012 5 19 4 17  
2013 67 74 56 61  
2014 19 28 16 21  
2015 91 121 73 96  
2016 78 103 60 79  
2017 87 160 74 135  
2018 436 460 344 362  
2019 132 179 107 146  
2020 85 96 72 75  
2021 1 7 0 2  
2022 15 163 8 128  
2023 374 436 287 337  
2024 297 456 240 371  
2025 567   463  

2. PHS Vaccination Surveillance - figures up to 31 March 2024 for 2023/24 and 30 March 2025 for 2024/25

  2023/24 Winter Flu Vaccines 2024/25 Winter Flu Vaccines
Overall 1,647,596 1,296,906
JCVI Priority Group Numbers % of eligible Numbers % of eligible
18-64 at risk 390,872 42.2% 307,849 34.6%
Weakened Immune System 79,826 64.1% 119,306 61.0%
65-74 470,275 75.7% 434,620 68.7%
75+ 443,134 84.7% 432,892 80.6%
Health Care Workers 75,546 42.2% 65,922 35.9%
Social Care Workers 42,309 25.9% 29,138 17.2%

3. People with long-term health conditions urged to get flu vaccine before Christmas - GOV.UK

4. Three times higher mortality rate from respiratory disease in the most deprived local authority (Glasgow) compared to the least deprived local authority (Orkney Islands) ) Breathing Unequal | Asthma + Lung UK