The results are in for this year’s flu vaccine, and they’re not great.
On Thursday, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the flu shot was 36 percent effective against all the flu viruses circulating this season. The flu prevented about 25 percent of illnesses stemming from the influenza A strain H3N2 that has hit many patients particularly hard this winter.
The flu shot is not as effective as typical years, but the vaccine remains an important tool to help prevent the spread of the virus, infectious disease experts say.
“CDC continues to recommend influenza vaccination because the vaccine can still prevent some infections with currently circulating influenza viruses, which are expected to continue circulating for several weeks,” the agency said in its report. “Even with current vaccine effectiveness estimates, vaccination will still prevent influenza illness, including thousands of hospitalizations and deaths.”
The flu has been particularly hard in Pennsylvania and Berks County. Earlier this week, the state Department of Health said 107 residents had died of the virus since reporting began in October. There have been 1,852 flu cases in Berks County and 61,587 positive flu tests across the state.
The flu vaccine did perform better in one key demographic, the CDC report said. Among children between 6 months and 8 years old, the flu vaccine was 59 percent effective.
There had been concerns that the vaccine would be even more dismal this year after Australia reported a 10 percent effectiveness rate against H3N2 and Canada posted a 17 percent effectiveness rate.
The area’s hospitals and clinics have said they’ve seen an influx of patients with flu symptoms, including fever, sore throat, cough and body aches. People can reduce the spread of the virus by getting the flu shot, staying home when sick and practicing good coughing and sneezing etiquette.
While doctors are always concerned about the effectiveness of the flu shot, they are still recommending it to the community, saying it has clear benefits.
“When you look at the mortality and morbidity, those who have gotten the flu vaccine are getting less sick,” said Dr. Mary Kelleher, chief medical officer for the Berks Community Health Center.
The CDC said it hopes to develop a better flu shot that covers more strains and offers more protection.
“Although more effective vaccines are needed, vaccination prevents a substantial burden of influenza-related illness annually,” the flu report said. “Even in years where the (vaccine effectiveness) falls below 20 percent, it still saves lives.
Contact Matthew Nojiri: 610-371-5062 or mnojiri@readingeagle.com.