The NHS has started giving this winter’s flu vaccine to schoolchildren and pregnant women from Tuesday. People aged 65 and over can get a free NHS flu shot from October, as the rollout moves in stages across eligible groups.
Dr Amanda Doyle said: “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,” and: “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 Doyle and the rollout
The winter vaccine has been updated to protect against last year’s Super-K strain, also described as subclade K. Children from the age of two upwards get a nasal spray version of the vaccine, while adults have an injection. A single dose is all that is needed to offer protection ahead of winter.
Dr Amanda Doyle said: “With the NHS experiencing its busiest summer on record, staff have started preparing for this winter earlier than ever – and with services already under significant pressure, it is vital that everyone offered the vaccine comes forward.”
Super-K and the NHS
The NHS said last winter’s flu season began more than a month earlier than usual, and the vaccine update is aimed at that strain. Annual changes to the flu jab follow the way influenza viruses mutate, and the current rollout is being staged so the first doses go to schoolchildren and pregnant women before older adults become eligible from October.
People who do not qualify for a free jab can pay about £10 to £20 for one. The practical next step for eligible people is simple: come forward when invited, because the NHS has set out the first window now for schoolchildren and pregnant women, with the older age group following from October.
FDA approves Moderna flu vaccine for adults 50 and older and FDA approves Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine show how vaccine updates continue to move across markets, but the NHS rollout is focused on its own winter schedule and eligibility list.
