Good news: this year's flu vaccine seems good

Most of us know that there is no flu vaccine 100% effectivethis means that it is still possible to get the flu after receiving the vaccine. But the exact efficiency varies from year to year and depends on how well the vaccine strains match those who actually fly and make it difficult for people.

This year, the vaccine strains and circulating strains have been fairly well-matched so far, according to new data from Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC).

Every year another influenza vaccine is created to try to protect against certain influenza strains. To find out what strains should be in the vaccine, scientists monitor the changes in the globally circulating influenza strains and use this information to predict which strains might be most common during the next flu season. National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAD). Then they come up with a vaccine that is designed to protect against three or four strains they consider to be the most dominant this season.

Sometimes the vaccine strains are not perfect for those who end this season, and sometimes they are, NIAD says. Therefore, you can come to the effectiveness of the flu vaccine, which varies from year to year. Efficiency in recent years has ranged from 60% in the 2010-2011 season to 19% in 2014-2015. CDC data. The last two seasons have been about 40 percent effective – not terrible, but not surprising.

However, this year, A (H1N1) influenza A-H1N1 viruses dominate most of the country, while A (H3) influenza viruses have caused most of the flu in the south-eastern United States. Weekly US Flu Monitoring Report. And the purpose of this year's vaccine is H1N1 type, H3N2 type virus, and B-strain, CDC, which suggests that there is a pretty good match between these experts, what we predicted and what we see and what is actually there.

"When circulating stumps match the shot, it means that we will get the optimal vaccine effectiveness," says SELF, Amesh A. Adalja, an infectious disease expert, senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Health Center. By sharing this information, Dr. Adalja says he hopes people out has not been vaccinated against influenza however, it will do so. (For record, flu season tend to be the highest in February but it can run until May.)

The flu vaccine should be your first line of defense, but there are other things you can do to protect yourself and others.

All these great news does not mean that you still can't get the flu if you get the vaccine (unfortunately you can), but the chances are better than if the vaccine is not so great.

In addition, "the vaccine is underestimated, because even if you have flu disease, your illness is less severe and less common (such as pneumonia). and die, "William Schaffner, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist and Professor of Medical School at Vanderbilt University, tells SELF." When people who have been vaccinated complain that they still have the flu, my answer is always, "Well, I'm glad you are still here to complain about it."

If someone in your house is flu, whether they are vaccinated or not, there are a few things you can do to lower the chances that you will have next. Of course, your first step would be to get a vaccine if it is not already done. In addition, good hand hygiene is very important, Dr. Adalja says, as well as what you can do to avoid coughing and sneezing (which is easier said than done if it's your kids having flu). That's why Dr. Schaffner says it is not a terrible idea to wear a face mask around your house if possible.

Also, if you are at a higher risk of flu complications, for example if you are pregnant, have diabetes or have a heart or lung disease, contact your doctor. They can recommend taking antiviral medicines Tamiflu prophylactically Try to prevent you from getting flu or getting serious complications.

Overall, experts continue to stress that the vaccine is the best protection against influenza. "The flu is being lifted across the country, and if you have not yet been vaccinated, please run – do not hurry and get vaccination today," says Schaffner. "It's not too late."

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