Blogs and Updates

Reviewed by Dr. Farhan Rashid Abbasi, Pharmacist, Medicine Online. For general information only; it does not replace advice from your own doctor. Information current as of 9 November 2026.

Flu season has arrived early and hard in Pakistan. In late October, two of Karachi's largest public hospitals reported that patients with flu-like illness had roughly doubled in just over a week, and doctors have identified the H1N1 strain of influenza A among patients. At the same time, flu vaccines have been hard to find in many pharmacies, and the drug regulator has warned about counterfeit vaccines. This guide explains what is happening, who most needs the vaccine, and how to get a genuine one safely.

What is happening this flu season

• Cases are rising in Karachi. Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre reported flu-like cases rising from about 30 to 40 a day to 70 to 80, and Civil Hospital Karachi from about 8 to 10 a day to 30 to 40. Whole families are being affected, and many patients are young adults.
• H1N1 is circulating. Doctors in Karachi have identified H1N1 (influenza A) among patients with fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and breathing difficulty.
• National surveillance shows steady flu activity. The National Institute of Health's weekly bulletin for week 40 recorded 45,923 influenza-like illness cases nationwide, with both influenza A and influenza B detected in laboratory samples.
• Smog makes it worse. Polluted winter air irritates the airways, so a flu infection can feel heavier and last longer, especially for people with asthma or COPD. See our smog season guide.

What is H1N1?

H1N1 is one of the main influenza A strains that circulate every winter. It became widely known as "swine flu" during the 2009 pandemic, but today it is a regular seasonal flu strain and is included in every year's flu vaccine. For most healthy people, H1N1 causes a typical flu: sudden high fever, body aches, sore throat, cough and exhaustion, lasting about a week. It can, however, cause pneumonia and serious illness in young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with long-term conditions.

Not sure whether it is flu or a cold? Our guide Flu or Cold? When to Treat at Home and When to See a Doctor explains the difference and the warning signs.

Why the flu vaccine matters this year

The flu vaccine is the most effective way to lower your chance of catching flu and, more importantly, of becoming seriously ill or needing hospital care. Flu viruses change every year, so the vaccine is updated every year too, and last year's shot does not protect you this winter.

For the 2026–27 northern hemisphere season, the World Health Organization recommends a trivalent vaccine that protects against three strains:

• Influenza A (H1N1), the strain now circulating in Karachi
• Influenza A (H3N2)
• Influenza B (Victoria lineage)

Protection builds up over about two weeks after the injection, so the sooner you are vaccinated, the better. It is not too late in November: flu usually keeps circulating in Pakistan through December, January and February.

Who should get the flu vaccine

Almost everyone aged 6 months and older can benefit, but it is most important for:

• Adults aged 65 and over
• Children aged 6 months to 5 years
• Pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy (it also protects the baby for the first months after birth)
• People with diabetes, asthma, COPD, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, or a weakened immune system
• Healthcare workers and carers of elderly or sick family members
• Anyone living with a baby too young to be vaccinated

Children under 9 getting the flu vaccine for the first time usually need two doses four weeks apart. Your doctor will advise.

Is the flu vaccine safe?

Yes. Seasonal flu vaccines have been used safely in millions of people every year for decades. The injected vaccine contains inactivated (killed) virus or virus parts, so it cannot give you flu. Common side effects are mild and short-lived: a sore arm, mild fever or tiredness for a day or two.

Speak to your doctor first if you have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu vaccine, or if you currently have a high fever (wait until you are well). Most people with egg allergy can still be vaccinated safely; tell the person giving the vaccine.

Beware of counterfeit flu vaccines

With vaccines in short supply, fake products have appeared. On 1 November 2026 the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) warned that the following batches are counterfeit:

• Vaxigrip Tetra, batch Y4B34 (packaging claims Sanofi Winthrop, France). DRAP says this batch was never officially imported.
• Influvac Tetra, batch P13 (packaging claims Abbott Biologicals, Netherlands), found in Lahore.

A fake vaccine gives no protection and may be unsafe. To protect yourself:

• Buy only from a licensed pharmacy or get vaccinated at a hospital or clinic.
• Check the batch number against DRAP's alerts, and that the pack is sealed with an Urdu/English label and a valid expiry date.
• Make sure the vaccine has been kept refrigerated at 2–8°C. A vaccine left in the heat loses its effect.
• Be wary of sellers offering vaccines far below the usual price, or through social media.
• Report any suspected fake to DRAP, and any side effect to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre.

Get a genuine flu vaccine from Medicine Online

Medicine Online supplies DRAP-registered seasonal flu vaccine sourced only through authorised distributors, with the batch number and expiry date verifiable on every pack. Vaccines are kept refrigerated and delivered in cold-chain packaging, the same way we handle insulin (see our cold-chain guide).

• Check stock and reserve: because supply is limited this season, please call or WhatsApp our pharmacy team on +92-317-805-3244 to confirm availability, price and delivery to your city.
• Have it given by a professional: the flu vaccine must be injected by a doctor, nurse or trained vaccinator. Take it to your clinic promptly, keep it cold until then, and never freeze it.
• Prescription: our pharmacist may ask for a doctor's prescription or confirm details with you before dispatch.

Other ways to protect your family

• Wash hands often with soap for 20 seconds.
• Cover coughs and sneezes; wear a mask in crowded places and when you are unwell.
• Stay home with a fever until you have been fever-free for 24 hours.
• Do not take antibiotics for flu unless a doctor diagnoses a bacterial complication. They do not work against viruses.
• Keep a thermometer, paracetamol and ORS at home. See our winter medicine cabinet checklist and cough, cold and flu range.

Frequently asked questions

Is it too late to get the flu vaccine in November?

No. Flu continues to circulate in Pakistan through the winter, so getting vaccinated in November or December still gives valuable protection.

Does this year's flu vaccine protect against H1N1?

Yes. The 2026–27 vaccine recommended by WHO includes an H1N1 component, along with H3N2 and influenza B.

Can the flu vaccine give me flu?

No. The injected vaccine contains no live virus. Some people get a sore arm or mild fever for a day, which is the immune system responding.

Is the flu vaccine safe in pregnancy?

Yes. It is recommended at any stage of pregnancy and also helps protect the newborn.

How do I know my flu vaccine is genuine?

Buy from a licensed pharmacy, check the batch number against DRAP alerts, make sure the pack is sealed and in date, and confirm it has been kept refrigerated.

How long does the flu vaccine take to work?

About two weeks. Protection lasts for the current flu season, which is why the vaccine is needed every year.

Sources

• Dawn: Flu cases double at Karachi hospitals in over a week (27 Oct 2026)
• Pakistan Today: Karachi hospitals see rise in flu cases as H1N1 circulates (29 Oct 2026)
• ARY News: DRAP issues alert over counterfeit influenza vaccines (1 Nov 2026)
• WHO: Influenza vaccine composition for the 2026–2027 northern hemisphere season