UK medics are on alert for a severe flu outbreak this winter after a new variant that particularly affects children under five swept through New Zealand, causing hospital admissions to hit a 10-year high.
The so-called “K-strain” of influenza A has led to a sharp rise in cases in New Zealand, with children under five filling more hospital beds than any other age group. Now UK pharmacies are making emergency preparations, stocking thousands of vaccines as the weather cools.
New Zealand data sparks concern
Health authorities in New Zealand have expanded their free flu jab programme to children aged six months to five years due to fears over the fast-acting bug, which causes chills, fever and headaches. The country has recorded sky-high levels of influenza A, with Auckland experiencing its worst week for flu-related hospital admissions in a decade.
Public health professor Michael Baker has expressed fears that New Zealand faces an “historically” high death rate this flu season, pointing to a sharp rise in hospitalisations.
UK vaccination push
In Britain, all two and three year old children, plus primary and secondary school aged children, can get a free NHS jab. Older and vulnerable Brits are also eligible. Wendy Lee, Deputy Superintendent at Well Pharmacy, is urging Brits to get protected before winter sets in.
She said: “The crisis in New Zealand should be a wake-up call to us all - particularly parents of young children, the old and vulnerable. Flu can come on very quickly, so now is the time to think about protection rather than waiting until cases are already rising.”
K-strain evolution and impact
Health New Zealand says all sequenced influenza A/H3N2 samples this year have belonged to subclade K – the same strain that had a huge impact on last year’s northern-hemisphere winter. The worry is not just that it causes severe illness but that it has evolved away from the H3N2 viruses, spreading more rapidly because fewer people are immune.
In Auckland, 177 people were admitted to four hospitals with severe acute respiratory illness between August 9 and 16, up from 125 the previous week. The weekly hospitalisation rate was reported as the highest in the region since 2015.
Well Pharmacy is urging Brits to book their winter flu vaccination ahead of the coming season. The warning comes as the NHS begins its 2026/27 winter vaccination programme. Children and pregnant women became eligible for vaccination from September 1, with vaccinations for most other eligible groups beginning from October 1.
Well Pharmacy's private flu vaccination service is available now, while its free NHS flu vaccination service begins from October 1, subject to eligibility and availability. The current private flu vaccination price listed by Well Pharmacy is £19.49. Wendy Lee added: “The health emergency in New Zealand is an important reminder of how quickly influenza can take hold, and make people extremely ill. Getting vaccinated remains one of the best ways for eligible people to reduce their risk of serious illness from flu and help protect those around them.”
