[News Today] ‘K variant’ flu spreading fast

[LEAD]
Flu cases in Korea have surged to 14 times higher than last year, as the outbreak began two months earlier than usual.

It turns out, the strain currently spreading doesn't fully match the one targeted by this year's vaccine.

Still, health authorities say the shot remains effective, and are urging people to get vaccinated.

[REPORT]
Lee Jae-yeon skipped getting the flu vaccine last year.

But hearing news the virus would spread more powerfully this year, she rushed to the hospital.

Lee Jae-yeon / Seoul resident
I heard the flu is going around, so I was worried that if I didn't get vaccinated, my child might get infected.

The flu virus genome consists of eight segments.

If a major genetic shift like the one seen during the 2009 swine flu pandemic occurs, existing flu vaccines become essentially ineffective.

But this year’s 'K variant' is a minor mutation, involving only part of one genetic segment.

As it is derived from the vaccine-targeted J variant, existing vaccines can still provide significant protection.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency also believes that while vaccines can't completely prevent an infection, they are still effective in preventing severe progression.

Prof. Choi Won-seok / Korea Univ. Ansan Hospital
Even if there's a mismatch, antigens and various immune mechanisms impact the efficacy, so vaccines reduce the risk of severe progression by as much as 50–60%.

However the vaccination rate is still below the government's target.

There are still 800,000 people aged 65 and older and 500,000 children who need to be vaccinated.

Experts advise people to quickly get their jabs since the outbreak could last through April next year.

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