New super flu vaccine rollout begins as NHS regroups from 'busiest summer'

This winter's flu vaccine has been updated to protect against last year's Super-K strain, with the first doses being given to schoolchildren and pregnant women.

Flu hit early last winter , with a new mutated version of the virus circulating - a seasonal influenza called subclade K or Super-K.

School children are being prioritised - and like pregnant women can get the jab from Tuesday - because they can catch and spread flu easily. Protecting them also helps others, including baby brothers or sisters and grandparents.

Other eligible groups, including people aged 65 and over, can get a free NHS flu shot from October and should receive an invite by phone or post.

Last winter's flu season was unexpected, beginning more than a month earlier than usual , external with the Super-K strain.

Super flu is not a medical term, and it does not mean the virus has become harder to treat, just that people are yet to build up immunity against it.

Flu vaccines are updated annually to ensure they are a good match for the type of flu circulating. Influenza viruses constantly mutate and experts have to predict these changes ahead of time.

This year's vaccine has had a few tweaks, including one to better match subclade K.