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The flu vaccine may not be as effective this winter as laboratories have not been able to collect all the data needed during the Covid-19 pandemic, experts fear.
Jab is generally formulated to protect against several strains of the virus. In February, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave advice on what to include in influenza vaccines for countries in the northern hemisphere.
But a pharmaceutical company that develops vaccines is concerned that the lack of influenza data collected during the Covid pandemic may render the vaccine ineffective against certain variants of the flu.
There has been a 62% drop in shipments of influenza surveillance samples due to countries closing their borders and restricting travel during the coronavirus pandemic.
There is concern that all of these aggravating factors, along with weaker natural immunity to influenza in the general population and high levels of Covid infection, could put pressure on the NHS.
Dr Beverly Taylor, of the pharmaceutical company Seqirus – which supplies the UK with flu shots, told the The telegraph of the day: “We saw a fairly significant reduction in the number of laboratories providing genetic sequence data to the WHO, and around September of last year we saw a 94% drop in the genetic sequence data that were reported. in the database.
“So it had a huge impact on the reporting. We could have reduced the possibility of identifying viruses as they emerge. We have certainly reduced the opportunity to examine which vaccines would provide the best overall protection and the best coverage of all the viruses in circulation.
“What we’re actually seeing is the flu in geographic pockets, so it’s very difficult to say which one will be the winner. We might see an incompatibility for at least one of the subtypes. “
The warning comes after the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs announced in July that it would launch its largest influenza vaccination program “in history” this winter.
He said 35 million people would be offered the vaccine, more than half of the UK’s population, following the successful rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination.
From September, the jab will be offered to all children aged 2 and 3, and to all children in elementary and secondary school up to grade 11.
People aged six months to less than 50 years in “clinical risk groups”, pregnant women, people aged 50 and over, unpaid caregivers, close contacts of immunocompromised people and health workers and primary care adult social care providers will also be offered a vaccine.
Health and Social Affairs Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The flu can be a serious illness and we want to build a wall of protection by immunizing a record number of people.
“As the nation moves closer to normal life, we must learn to live with Covid-19 alongside other viruses and we are offering the free flu vaccine to millions more to help them stay safe. this winter.
“The phenomenal scale of the Covid-19 vaccination program is a clear demonstration of the positive impact that vaccination can have and I encourage all eligible people to get the flu shot when called.”
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