'Particularly bad': Urgent warning to parents over new highly contagious H3N2 flu strain
There has been an ‘unusually early start’ to the flu season 🤧
- Parents are being warned to check if their children are vaccinated as flu cases continue to rise.
- There has been an “unusually early start” to the flu season, with the new flu strain H3N2 suspected to be behind the rise in numbers.
- The warning from George Sandhu, deputy superintendent for Well Pharmacy, comes as lower numbers come forward for the flu jab compared to last year.
A leading pharmacist has issued an urgent warning to parents as cases of a new flu strain, which could be life-threatening, continue to surge.
His warning comes amid concerns over “an unusually early start” to the flu season, with medical professionals fearing the NHS faces one of the worst winters on record.
Infections of the new H3N2 strain continue to rise, with data released by the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) revealing a severe uplift in cases amongst children. Over a fifth of five to 14-year-olds who have taken a PCR test are being diagnosed with flu as it spreads across schools.
Uptake of the flu vaccine is currently lower than last year, with around 14.4 million patients getting the vaccine, four million short of the NHS target from last year. It comes as this winter’s flu season was described as “particularly bad” by Dr Helen Steward, RCPCH officer for health improvement.
George Sandhu, deputy superintendent for Well Pharmacy, said: “Children are often at risk of suffering from the flu and in severe cases, this can lead to cases of pneumonia and hospitalisation.
“Parents should ensure they get their child the flu vaccine as soon as possible. It takes two weeks to become fully effective against all strains, meaning your child is as safe as can be.”
What is the H3N2 flu strain?
Similar to Covid, strains of the flu continue to evolve throughout the year; the process is called antigenic drift. Organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) monitor flu strains, with their predictions helping to develop the yearly flu vaccine. H3N2 is a drifted flu strain that has continued to evolve after the development of this year’s flu vaccine.
Will the flu vaccine protect against the H3N2 flu strain?
The NHS have issued a plea to all those eligible to book their flu vaccine following the rise in flu cases. Data has revealed that last year’s vaccine was effective at preventing more than 100,000 hospitalisations of those suffering from the flu, but can it protect you against the new flu strain?
There are several flu vaccines, and all of them offer protection against the three main flu viruses, including influenza A (H1N1 and H2N2) and influenza B.
Analysis from the UKHSA has found that the flu vaccine remains the most effective way to protect against severe illness caused by the flu, despite the drifted H3N2 strain. Their latest data shows that it is currently 70 to 75% effective at preventing hospitalisation from the flu in children aged 2 to 17 years and 30 to 40% effective in adults.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist for Immunisation at UKHSA, said: “Whatever strains do circulate here this winter, we can be confident that the vaccine will still help to protect those most vulnerable from developing serious illness and being hospitalised. We strongly encourage all those eligible to get vaccinated against flu as soon as possible – it remains our best defence against serious illness.”
Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is free for those aged over 65, those under 65 in clinical risk groups, care home residents, carers, pregnant women, close contacts of the immunosuppressed, and frontline health and social care workers.
Children are eligible for a free flu vaccine, which is administered as a nasal spray for those between the ages of two to 16 years old. Those between the ages of six months and two years old in a high-risk group will receive a traditional flu jab instead.
Speaking about this year’s flu season, Mr Sandhu said: “Flu data already suggest that this is going to be one of the worst flu seasons on record. Infection rates are already significantly higher than you might expect for this time of year, and a slightly different strain of the flu may be the cause of this.
“This means that as infection rates are driven up, so is the risk of hospitalisation for more children who are not vaccinated. It is crucial that your child is vaccinated against the flu to protect from the worst symptoms over the winter.
“Unfortunately, we do know that the stats show us that last year, more than 7,000 people died of the flu. I would seriously encourage everyone who is eligible, especially children, to ensure that they are vaccinated.
“It also means that elderly people in the family are also protected, as children will not have the most severe symptoms of flu to pass on. Flu vaccines are quick and painless, especially the nasal spray, which is given to children. Just a few moments of your time ensures maximum protection for your child from flu this winter.”
Flu cases have been unseasonably early this winter. You can find out more about the signs and symptoms and how to get the flu vaccine at NHS.UK.