A nurse prepares a dose of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at the University Hospital Coventry, in Coventry, Britain April 22, 2022. Jacob King/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - England will bring forward the start of its autumn flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes as a precautionary step after the identification of highly mutated COVID variant BA.2.86, which has been found in Britain. However, Britain's health ministry said annual vaccination programmes for older and at-risk groups would start a few weeks earlier than planned in light of the variant. It is not currently categorised as a "variant of concern" in Britain, and the health ministry said there was no change to wider public health advice. "As with all emergent and circulating COVID-19 variants ... we will continue to monitor BA.2.86 and to advise government and the public as we learn more."

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Persons: Jacob King, Maria Caulfield, Jenny Harries, Harries, Alistair Smout, David Holmes Organizations: University Hospital Coventry, UK Health Security Agency, Thomson Locations: Coventry, Britain, England, Denmark, COVID