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Urgent Warning Issued over New Highly Contagious Strain of Flu

George Sandhu, deputy superintendent for Well Pharmacy, urges parents to vaccinate school-age children as UK Health Security Agency data shows over a fifth testing positive for H3N2.
With lower-than-target uptake, around 14.4 million patients have been vaccinated, roughly four million short of last year’s NHS target, and Sandhu links infections to gaps in child coverage.
Government vaccine data shows last year’s vaccine prevented more than 100,000 hospitalisations and last year more than 7,000 people died of flu, while children aged two to 16 receive a nasal spray and vaccines take two weeks to be fully effective.
Medics warn the season is unusually early and severe, saying Dr Helen Steward calls the winter `particularly bad` and Well Pharmacy urges eligible people and children to book flu jabs locally.
Protecting children also shields elderly and high-risk family members, as vaccinating children reduces severe symptoms and flu jabs are free for over 65s and clinical risk groups.

Insights by Ground AI