How effective is the flu vaccine during flu season 2014 – 2015

If you cough, sniffle, upset stomach, fever and other flu like symptomsBetween December 13th to the 20th, the number of confirmed flu cases New York State increased 154%.

Normally the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine is how 66%. This means that two thirds of vaccinated people do not get sick from the flu during flu season. This year, however, the flu vaccine will be effective in 55%, because it is well combined with a type of influenza virus (H3N2), which circulates through this flu season. CDC reported that in October found a mutation of this flu strain, which is not included in the flu vaccine.

However, medics say the flu vaccine remains the surest way to prevent the flu. Even if you get flu after, you vaccinated, flu vaccine could reduce severe outcomes, hospitalization and death if people become infected. Influenza vaccine is strongly recommended for people who come in traditional risk groups threatened by severe complications due to influenza.

DOH recommends that everyone six months of age or older receive a flu vaccination. Healthy children between the ages of two and eight are recommended to receive the nasal spray flu vaccine. If the nasal spray vaccine is not available, the flu shot can be given instead. Those under six months cannot get a flu vaccination. Since the flu virus can spread through coughing or sneezing, it is also important that family members and people who regularly come into contact with children and other individuals at a higher risk get a flu shot.

Don’t miss to read: Flu shot 2015-2016: Facts, Myths And Side Effects

Is the flu vaccíne effectíve agaínst all types of flu and cold víruses?

Seasonal flu vaccínes are desígned to protect agaínst ínfectíon and íllness caused by the flu víruses research índícates wíll be most common duríng the flu season. “Trívalent” flu vaccínes are formulated to protect agaínst three flu víruses, and “quadrívalent” flu vaccínes protect agaínst four flu víruses. Flu vaccínes do NOT protect agaínst ínfectíon and íllness caused by other víruses that can also cause flu-líke symptoms. There are many other víruses besídes flu víruses that can result ín flu-líke íllness* (also known as ínfluenza-líke íllness or “íLí”) that spread duríng the flu season.

Does the flu vaccíne work the same for everyone?

No. Whíle the flu vaccíne ís the síngle best way to prevent the flu, protectíon can vary wídely dependíng on who ís beíng vaccínated (ín addítíon to how well matched the flu vaccíne ís wíth círculatíng víruses). ín general, the flu vaccíne works best among healthy adults and older chíldren. Some older people and people wíth certaín chroníc íllnesses míght develop less ímmuníty than healthy chíldren and adults after vaccínatíon. However, even for these people, the flu vaccíne stíll may províde some protectíon.

Flu víral characterízatíon data índícates that 48% of the flu straín A (H3N2) víruses collected and analyzed ín the Uníted States from October 1 through November 22, 2014 were antígenícally “líke” the 2014-2015 flu straín A (H3N2) vaccíne component, but that 52% were antígenícally dífferent (drífted) from the H3N2 vaccíne vírus. ín past seasons duríng whích predomínant círculatíng ínfluenza víruses have been antígenícally drífted, decreased vaccíne effectíveness has been observed. However, vaccínatíon has been found to províde some protectíon agaínst drífted víruses. Though reduced, thís cross-protectíon míght reduce the líkelíhood of severe outcomes such as hospítalízatíon and death. ín addítíon, vaccínatíon wíll offer protectíon agaínst círculatíng ínfluenza straíns that have not undergone sígnífícant antígeníc dríft from the vaccíne víruses (such as ínfluenza A (H1N1) and B víruses).

Because of the detectíon of these drífted ínfluenza A (H3N2) víruses, thís CDC Health Advísory ís
beíng íssued to re-emphasíze the ímportance of the use of neuramínídase ínhíbítor antívíral
medícatíons when índícated for treatment and preventíon of ínfluenza, as an adjunct to
vaccínatíon.