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New Flu Vaccine Rollout Begins as NHS Prepares for Another Difficult Winter
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Health & Science

New Flu Vaccine Rollout Begins as NHS Prepares for Another Difficult Winter

From BBC News · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The United Kingdom has begun rolling out an updated flu vaccine after last winter’s season started more than a month earlier than usual and increased pressure on health services.
  • The vaccine includes changes intended to improve its match against the Super-K subclade, although experts cannot yet predict when flu will arrive or how severe the season will be.
  • The NHS is urging eligible people to get vaccinated, while some adults will also receive earlier access to an RSV vaccine.

The NHS has started preparing for flu earlier than ever after last winter’s season arrived more than a month ahead of schedule and put heavy pressure on urgent and emergency care. This year’s vaccine has been adjusted to better match the Super-K subclade.

“Super flu” is not a medical term and does not mean the virus has become harder to treat. It refers to a strain against which people have not yet built strong immunity. Because influenza viruses constantly mutate, vaccines are updated each year to match the strains experts expect to circulate.

Last year’s flu season came early and was made worse by a new variant, which had a major impact for patients and put enormous pressure on urgent and emergency care services across the country.

— Dr Amanda DoyleThe NHS England doctor explained why vaccination preparations began earlier this year.

It is not yet known when flu will reach the United Kingdom or whether the coming season will be severe. Health experts often examine conditions in Australia and New Zealand, where the flu season peaks in July and August. Those countries have so far recorded a relatively mild year.

With the NHS experiencing its busiest summer on record, staff have started preparing for this winter earlier than ever.

— Dr Amanda DoyleDoyle urged eligible people to come forward for vaccination while services remain under pressure.

Dr Amanda Doyle of NHS England urged people offered a vaccine to accept it. “Last year’s flu season came early and was made worse by a new variant, which had a major impact for patients and put enormous pressure on urgent and emergency care services across the country,” she said. “With the NHS experiencing its busiest summer on record, staff have started preparing for this winter earlier than ever.”

Children aged two and above receive a nasal spray, while adults receive an injection. Schoolchildren and pregnant women can receive a free NHS vaccine from September. From October, free vaccination is also available to people aged 65 and over, those with certain long-term conditions, care-home residents, some carers, people living with someone who has a weakened immune system, and people experiencing homelessness. Some adults with qualifying health conditions will also be offered an RSV vaccine at age 65 rather than 75.

Flu can really knock you for six, and for some children and pregnant women it can mean becoming seriously ill or ending up in hospital.

— Dr Amanda DoyleShe described the potential severity of influenza for vulnerable groups.
About this summary

Originally published by BBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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