The NHS will offer stronger flu jabs next year amid concern that this year’s vaccinations have failed to work effectively.

Health officials said the public could expect “gold standard” protection from next winter, in a bid to cut death rates from flu.

It follows the worst influenza season in seven years, and criticism of NHS decisions to offer jabs which have not protected against key strains in circulation, and those which have previously failed to protect the elderly.

The NHS offers free vaccinations to pensioners, pregnant women children under nine, and adults suffering from health conditions such as diabetes and asthma.

From next year, pensioners will receive a new type of jab designed to boost their immune response, after the vaccine last year was found to have zero effectiveness.