By Ana-Marija Dolaskie — Dec 29, 2025
Flu season is hitting hard right now, thanks to this new variant called Subclade K—yeah, the one they're dubbing the "Super bug." It's basically taken over as the main strain in the US, spreading super fast with some sneaky mutations that dodge a bit of our usual immunity. It's legit, and this year's flu vaccine isn't providing the best protection against it.
Here's the real talk from Dr. Dinerstein: "This year, the Subclade K strain is predominant and is not explicitly covered by the flu vaccination. That said, the vaccine does afford some protection. Studies in the UK suggest that the vaccine reduces childhood hospitalization by about 70% and adult hospitalization by 30 to 40%. For the immunocompromised and physically frail, the flu vaccine remains an important, although not complete, measure of preventative care."
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