Every fall, Americans roll up their sleeves to get their annual bodies flu vaccineThere are questions that remain: How effective is the vaccine? This is awesome general? The answer, experts say, is that we can’t know for sure — however, the vaccine is safe and is your best protection against getting seriously ill with the flu.
Why does effectiveness fluctuate every year?
If you look at the numbers on how effective the flu vaccine has been in protecting Americans from catching the flu over the past few decades, there’s a pretty wide range, from 19% In 2014-15 to 60% in 2010-11. (These figures mean, for example, in 2010-11, that 60 percent fewer healthy adults who were vaccinated caught the flu than those who were not.)
Why this difference? It’s all about a systematic effort to predict the future, according to Richard Webby, Ph.D.. , an influenza expert in the Division of Infectious Diseases at St. Children’s Research Hospital. Jude. He explained that the World Health Organization (WHO) has a network of about 148 laboratories in 120 countries, which collect samples from people with flu-like symptoms during the common flu season. Then they analyze the sample and grind the data. “This group meets twice a year and asks a very simple question: Given the vaccine strains we have now, how closely do they match the strains we think will prevail in six months?” He explained.
Armed with this information, each country produces a vaccine that is believed to be best for its population. in the United States, All vaccines this year are quadrivalent, which means it protects against four different types of influenza, two types of influenza A and two types of influenza B, he explained. Ada D. Stewart, MD, a family physician with the Health Collaborative in Columbia, South Carolina, and chair of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians. When this match is good, it reduces the risk of a healthy adult developing the disease in between 40 and 60 percent, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But sometimes, as we recently discovered with COVID, a new strain can surprise us. “When we designed the vaccine, influenza might still be on the other side of the globe, and when it returns, it may go a little different than expected, so we don’t get an exact match between what’s in the vaccine and what’s in the vaccine. circulating strains,” explained Dr. Webby. .
What will happen this year?
Last year, thanks to all the hand washing, social distancing and wearing of masks, we got one of those Mildest flu season in modern history. There were significantly fewer illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths (approximately 700 people He died of the flu, compared to 22,000 years earlier). “I can tell you that I am a practicing family doctor zero “The flu test was positive last year,” said Dr. Stewart. In addition to all safety precautions and closures from the COVID pandemic, there are also Notes flu vaccine distributed last season (about 55 percent of adults had the flu, compared with 48 percent the previous year).
This was great news for last year, but has mixed meanings for this year. While Americans are more used to staying at home and staying safe when they feel sick, last year’s lower flu season means researchers have less data to use to create this year’s flu vaccine. “We have almost 100 times less viral information than we had in the past, so there is little uncertainty,” said Dr. Webby.
However, both Dr. Webby and Dr. Stewart urges everyone to get the flu shot: “As we’ve seen with the COVID vaccine, even if the flu vaccine doesn’t stop you from getting infected, it definitely reduces your risk of infection,” says Dr. Stewart. Webby. Even if the flu vaccine doesn’t prevent you from getting infected, Dr. Stewart added, Dr. Stewart added. The flu vaccine is only 50 percent effective, “50 percent is very important, because the flu can kill!” he said. “It can cause serious illness, especially in our vulnerable population, such as those over the age of 65,” he said, or with a history of asthma or COPD, or children under the age of two. “
And again, as we’ve seen with the COVID vaccine, the flu vaccine can eliminate potentially fatal illnesses that require hospitalization to mild cases that can be treated at home. Although studies range annually, the risk of contracting the flu in an intensive care unit drops from 26 to 82 percent if you are vaccinated. A Study earlier this year at Serum It was reported that there was a 31 percent lower risk of death compared to those who were not vaccinated. And even if you’re one of the unlucky few people vaccinated and still in the ICU, your stay will be shorter. A Studies 2018 It was found that among those admitted to the intensive care unit with influenza, the vaccinated patients spent 4 fewer days than the unvaccinated.
When you add up the numbers, the flu shot is estimated Millions of bans From the flu, to medical visits and hospitalizations every year — and in a year when hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, that frees up a lot of resources.
Why shots are important, especially this year
Finally, in the year when we are still suffering the consequences of that other A highly contagious virus, Dr. Webby urges people who are reluctant to get the flu shot to think about their community: “We hope that taking the flu shot will reduce infection for other people as well,” he explains. “So by simply taking the flu shot, you reduce the chances of passing the virus on to other people, whether you’re in a home with someone who is more likely to have a spectrum of severe terminal illness or even generally to others. of the population.”
One last reason to get a flu shot, no matter how effective it is this year? Dr Webby said this year’s flu season may have an additional impact. “Because we have two seasons of very low influenza activity here, it is possible that our level of immunity to influenza will be lower as a population.” He explained that during the common cold season, more than 80 percent of the population catches the flu, which helps boost their immunity. Since we skipped that step last year, “it’s possible that when the flu comes back, it’ll be accompanied by a bit more heat.”
If you’re still waiting to get your COVID-19 vaccine — or thinking about getting one drive–There should be no distance between two shotssaid Dr. Stewart. You can even get it on the same date. “It’s very important to get both shots, because we know that flu and COVID can coexist. If you have questions about any of the vaccines, talk to your doctor – they are a reliable source of information and we should continue.” to do what we can to keep our community healthy.” .
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