Health
UK begins winter flu vaccine rollout targeting new Super-K strain
The NHS is prioritizing schoolchildren and pregnant women with an updated vaccine following last year's early and severe winter flu season.
The short version
- The NHS has launched its winter flu vaccine campaign, introducing an updated formula designed to protect against the "Super-K" strain (subclade K) that circulated last winter.
- Schoolchildren and pregnant women are the first eligible groups to receive the free vaccine starting in September, while individuals aged 65 and over will become eligible in October.
- The NHS is also expanding its Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination program, lowering the eligible age from 75 to 65 for adults with certain pre-existing health conditions.
Key facts
- The winter flu vaccine has been modified this year to include updates targeting the subclade K, or "Super-K," seasonal influenza strain.[BBC News]
- Last winter's flu season in the UK began more than a month earlier than usual due to the spread of the Super-K strain, placing significant pressure on emergency medical services.[BBC News]
- Free NHS flu vaccinations are available starting in September for schoolchildren and pregnant women, who are being prioritized to limit spread.[BBC News]
- Other eligible cohorts, including adults aged 65 and older, individuals with long-term health conditions, and care home residents, can receive their free vaccines starting in October.[BBC News]
- The NHS is also expanding RSV vaccine access, offering it to adults at age 65 instead of 75 if they have specific underlying conditions like chronic lung disease.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- It is not yet known exactly when the flu season will peak in the UK this year or how severe the season will be, though health officials note that the southern hemisphere recently experienced a relatively mild season.[BBC News]