EVERY AUTUMN, my surgery invites all those eligible for a flu jab on the NHS to have one to protect them from the strain of flu predicted to cause problems that year. This has to be done annually, as the flu virus changes slightly each year and last year’s vaccine won’t protect against this year’s virus. Predicting the way the virus will mutate is highly technical, and scientists draw on data from the preceding winter in the southern hemisphere. Normally we would complete our flu clinics by the middle to end of November, but there are always those who haven’t been able to attend. Provided we have supplies, we will continue to vaccinate the vulnerable into the new year.