Urgent health warning to all Britons over 'tripledemic' as new XEC Covid variant grips UK - symptoms
A national push is underway to get Britons vaccinates as fears over a 'tripledemic' and new Covid variant grip UK
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Millions of Britons can now book their flu and COVID-19 jabs as the NHS launches its winter vaccination campaign.
Bookings opened at 9 am on Monday through the NHS website, app or by calling 119. Those eligible include adults aged 65 and over, care home residents, people in clinical risk groups, and frontline health and social care workers. Pregnant women and children up to school year 11 can also receive the flu vaccine.
The push comes amid NHS England's concerns over a potential "tripledemic" of flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Officials hope the vaccination drive will help ease pressure on the health service during the colder months.
The campaign takes on added urgency as fears grow about a new COVID variant, XEC, which could become the dominant strain in the UK, scientists say.
Bookings opened at 9 am on Monday through the NHS website, app or by calling 119
Getty ImagesThe XEC variant, first identified in Germany in June, has since been detected in the UK, US, Denmark and other countries. It is a recombinant of two Omicron strains, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Experts suggest XEC's new mutations could aid its spread this autumn. However, they believe existing vaccines should still protect against severe illness.
The emergence of XEC underscores the importance of the NHS vaccination campaign. While updated vaccines have been designed to better target Omicron subvariants, they were not specifically formulated for XEC.
Despite this, health officials emphasise that getting vaccinated remains crucial for reducing the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation, particularly for vulnerable groups as the UK heads into the winter months.
The XEC variant is a hybrid of two Omicron strains, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. It has been detected in several countries, including the UK, US, and Denmark.
Symptoms are similar to those of previous Covid variants, including fever, sore throat, cough, loss of sense of smell, loss of appetite, and body aches.
While XEC is causing concern, it's important to note that its full implications are not yet fully understood.
Health authorities are closely monitoring its spread and studying its characteristics.
So far, over 500 samples from 27 countries, including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal and China, have been found to contain XEC.
The variant's potential to become dominant in the UK underscores the importance of continued vigilance and adherence to public health measures.
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The variant's potential to become dominant in the UK underscores the importance of continued vigilance
According to the NHS, Ii’s important to wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day. Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
If you or your child are at increased risk of getting ill from COVID-19, try to avoid contact with people who have symptoms of COVID-19 until they feel better, the health body adds.
You may also want to:
- Open windows and doors if you meet people inside, or meet them outside instead
- Stay at least two metres away from people (particularly indoors or in crowded places)
- Work from home if you can, or talk to your employer about how they can help reduce your risk at work
- Wear a face covering when it's hard to stay away from other people
- Think about asking people to wear a face covering or take a rapid lateral flow test if you're meeting them inside