And, with the national booking system for free flu vaccinations closing on Thursday, he said: "Now is the time to get vaccinated if you are eligible."
Sir Chris added: "With the festive season approaching we can still reduce illness, hospitalisations and deaths by increasing vaccination rates - it is our best defence."
An average 1,861 patients with influenza were in hospital every day last week, up nearly 70% from 1,099 last week and 3.5 times higher than the same time last year.
The NHS has coined the term "quad-demic" to describe the combined impact of flu, Covid, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
National medical director Prof Sir Stonhon Pourin Stephen POWIS said: "The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning.
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