England's Chief Medical Officer has issued a stark warning that the healthcare system must start taking infections in older people "much more seriously." Professor Sir Chris Whitty said this demographic is currently "under-served" in terms of both clinical care and medical research.
An 'Under-Served' Population at Higher Risk
Sir Chris, presenting his new annual report on Thursday 04 December 2025, highlighted a critical gap in care. He argued that while the NHS is systematic in preventing infections in children and young adults, the approach for older adults is often "a lot more hit and miss."
Data confirms that people over 70 are significantly more likely to catch infections, become severely ill, and die from them. Sir Chris warned that with an ageing population, this issue will only intensify unless action is taken. "Since this population is getting bigger, if we do nothing, the amount of infection is going to increase," he stated.
He criticised a historical "nihilistic" attitude, where infections in old age were seen as inevitable. "People have assumed it's one of those things that happen in old age – in fact, we can do a lot about it," Sir Chris emphasised.
Infection Link to Stroke and Heart Attack
A key focus of the report is the strong connection between infections and subsequent cardiovascular events. Sir Chris pointed to "clear evidence" that having an infection raises the risk of a stroke, particularly in the first two weeks, with effects potentially lasting a year.
This increased stroke risk comes from "a whole range of infections," including urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, flu, and even HIV. Evidence for a similar link to heart attacks is slightly less robust, but research suggests people are more likely to have one in the days and weeks following an infection.
"If we could reduce the infections, we would reduce strokes and heart attacks," Sir Chris said. He urged doctors to modify all risk factors in an older person with a severe infection to cut these dangers.
Call for Rethinking Antibiotic Use
While cautioning against the overuse of antibiotics in the general population to combat drug resistance, Sir Chris said rules should not be applied blanketly across all ages. For older people, the risk-benefit calculation shifts.
"The risks of an infection turning into sepsis are much higher" in the elderly, he explained. Therefore, doctors should have a lower threshold for prescribing antibiotics to older adults than they do for younger people.
Practical Steps for Protection
Sir Chris urged older people to actively ramp up their own protection. He listed several "common sense" measures:
- Frequent and thorough hand washing.
- Careful preparation of food.
- Asking visitors who have recently been unwell to stay away until fully recovered.
- Accepting all vaccinations offered by the NHS.
He also advised working to decrease general stroke and heart attack risk by managing blood pressure and stopping smoking.
Vaccination Warnings and Reassurances
The report also addressed vaccine uptake. Sir Chris called childhood vaccines "amazing," citing the dramatic drop in Haemophilus Influenza B (Hib) meningitis cases after immunisation.
While noting uptake is "drifting down a bit," he strongly rejected the idea that the UK is becoming a vaccine-sceptical nation. "Over 90 per cent of parents will bring their children for vaccination," he said, attributing most missed doses to practical access issues rather than hesitancy.
He made a specific plea to pregnant women to get their flu jab this winter, calling flu in pregnancy a "dangerous combination" and noting current uptake is not high enough.
Concluding, Sir Chris linked the immediate seasonal threat to his broader argument: "The significant pressures over the next few weeks in the NHS is because flus are ramping up, and it really affects the elderly." His report is a clear call for a fundamental shift in how the medical community and society view and tackle infections in older age.
