CLEVELAND — As families prepare for Thanksgiving gatherings next week, health officials are emphasizing the importance of seasonal vaccinations, while Ohioans face growing challenges accessing the pharmacies they need.

New flu strain raises concerns

The United States may be facing another difficult influenza season, partly due to lagging vaccination rates and a newly mutated strain called sub-clade-K. This variant has already caused early surges in the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan, and health experts warn it's just a plane or car ride away from widespread U.S. transmission if it hasn't arrived already.

Last winter's flu season was particularly severe, with the highest hospitalization rates in nearly 15 years. At least 280 children died from influenza complications, marking the hig

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