Buzz
This year’s flu outbreak has been especially harsh, and it might be discouraging to learn that some individuals who received the flu shot still ended up catching the flu. (This occurs annually, but it feels more impactful when it affects you or someone close to you.) However, the flu vaccine remains effective. Here’s what you should understand.
This Season Has Been Particularly Severe
This year is projected to experience as many flu cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities as any recent flu season. (It’s unlikely we’ll surpass the 2009-2010 H1N1 season, but only time will reveal the final outcome.)
The Vaccine’s Effectiveness Likely Exceeds 10 Percent
Several news articles highlighted a 10 percent figure as proof that the flu vaccine is only marginally effective. However, this statistic came from a report indicating the vaccine was only 10 percent effective against one specific strain of flu (an H3N2 variant) and only in Australia. To understand its effectiveness in the US, more context is required.
According to the CDC, last year’s US vaccine included the same H3N2 component, and the H3N2 strain currently circulating appears similar to last year’s version. This allows us to estimate this year’s vaccine effectiveness based on those figures. Last year, the vaccine was approximately 32 percent effective against H3N2.
This year, H3N2 is widely circulating, as shown by the red bars in the chart above. However, it’s not the only flu strain in play, and other strains tend to align better with the vaccine (H3N2 is notably more unpredictable). Over the past decade, flu vaccine effectiveness has varied between 19 percent and 60 percent. This year might fall on the lower side, but it’s still too early to determine.
But wait…
By now, you should be familiar with these points:
No, the flu vaccine cannot cause the flu, just like swallowing a watermelon seed won’t grow a watermelon in your stomach. It simply doesn’t function that way.
If you received the flu shot and still caught the flu, you’ve become part of the statistics. However, many others who got the vaccine didn’t get sick and avoided spreading it to vulnerable groups like infants, the elderly, or cancer patients.
The flu shot enhances your ability to fight the flu, so even if you fall ill, you’re in a better position than if you hadn’t been vaccinated.
There’s minimal to no risk in getting the shot, which is why it’s advised for nearly everyone aged six months and older. Check out the CDC’s guidelines here. Infants require two doses, older adults need a higher dose, and the nasal spray isn’t available due to its lack of effectiveness in previous years.
It’s not too late to get vaccinated. While your local pharmacy might be out of stock, use vaccinefinder.org to locate a place with available doses. Immunologically, getting the shot now is still beneficial if you haven’t already. (If you did get vaccinated earlier this season, relax—you’re all set.)
Big Pharma isn’t paying me to say this. I advocate for the flu vaccine because it offers excellent ROI: a few minutes of your time, a sore arm, and some insurance paperwork (PSA: it’s free) in exchange for a strong chance of keeping flu viruses at bay.
