Two-thirds of frontline hospital workers not protected against flu as Ipswich Hospital asks visitors to wear masks

Why it matters: The low vaccination rate among healthcare workers comes at a critical time:

• Ipswich Hospital A&E is under unprecedented pressure from winter illnesses as it urges the public to get vaccinated and wear masks when visiting.

• The East of England Ambulance Service is operating at its highest alert level, increasing the number of ambulances operating in the region by 90 per day.

What they're saying: Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: "The NHS has been hit hard with an early festive flu season, putting increased pressure on staff as they prepare for the long winter ahead of us."

The bigger picture: The low vaccination rate matches the national average, with 68% of frontline NHS staff across England not yet vaccinated. The surge in winter illnesses is adding to existing pressures:

• The East of England Ambulance Service received over 39,000 emergency calls between Christmas and New Year

• The service has deployed 90 extra ambulances daily to manage demand

What's being done: The NHS is making the flu jab "as easy as possible" to access, with vaccination centres in supermarket car parks and football clubs, according to Professor Powis.

What the experts say: Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at The Health Foundation, said the current winter crisis reflects a "lack of resilience" in the NHS after a decade of austerity.

Patricia Marquis, the Royal College of Nursing's executive director for England, warned: "Right across the NHS beds are full, A&E is facing increasing pressures, while the growing number of flu cases threatens to overwhelm an NHS and workforce already in crisis."

Bottom line: With local ambulance services already stretched and winter illnesses circulating, health leaders are urging both healthcare workers and the public to get vaccinated before the situation worsens.