Influenza (‘flu’) mutates at a frightening rate, so a new vaccine is needed every year. The annual flu vaccine is very effective most years.
Unfortunately, many people regard flu as a nuisance, rather than a killer. It is worth remembering that just after World War 1, a flu pandemic killed around 50 million people.
The strain of flu that massacred all those people is almost identical to the current ‘seasonal’ flu.
A new cycle of flu vaccinations will start again shortly.
Many people are eligible to get the latest flu vaccination for free, but if you aren’t, many pharmacists offer it for £10. It is well worth the cost.