Jab ‘may tackle all flu types’

A FLU jab that could be the first to offer protection against all strains of the disease is being tested by the NHS.

Health chiefs are asking patients to take part in the world’s first widespread human testing of such an innoculation.

Vaccines change each year to try to match variations in the virus but sometimes do not work well, as was the case last year among the over-65s in England. Now Oxford University has developed a jab that attacks core proteins of the virus, instead of changeable surface proteins.

More than 10,000 over-65s across Oxfordshire and Berkshire will be asked to take part in the trial.

It came as NHS England warned of a “pressurised” flu season this winter.