Why This Year’s Flu Vaccine Is More Important Than Ever

Winter is coming for the Northern Hemisphere, and with it, the next flu season. We are used to dealing with mutations in the H1N1 influenza virus every year, but this year is different: we have COVID-19 to worry about as well. Viruses survive better outside the body when it’s cold, and other coronaviruses spread more easily in the winter, so it seems likely that we may see a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Exactly how bad a winter wave will be is hard to predict, but a worse case scenario could see a higher death toll than the first wave. The last thing we need is a ‘double whammy’ of COVID-19 and a bad flu season. That’s why it’s especially important to get the seasonal flu vaccine this year, particularly if you are over 40.

The SAGE committee in the UK has recommended that the government consider vaccinating the entire UK population, while the CDC in the USA recommends vaccination for everybody over 6 months of age. Increased demand for vaccination could put pressure on supplies, so please be sure to get yours!

Flu vaccines are available in the UK starting the 14th of September. Flu cases are expected to start rising in early October, so September/early October is the ideal time to get vaccinated. Besides your local friendly NHS clinic, you can book a slot to get the flu vaccine here:

• Boots UK
• Lloyds Pharmacy
• Superdrug UK

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