Photo: Catharina Glazenburg
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The flu vaccine for the current flu season seems to be working better than expected. This is apparent from preliminary figures from the European collaboration I-MOVE, in which researchers from RIVM and Nivel are also participating. Due to an observed mismatch of circulating flu viruses with the viruses in the flu vaccine, researchers previously expected a more limited effectiveness.
The preliminary data show that the effectiveness of the current flu vaccine protects for 36% against an infection with the flu virus type A (for all ages, for an infection with which you go to the doctor). For the A(H3N2) subtype, which is most common in the current flu epidemic, the effectiveness is 35%.
Changes
The genetic code of the flu virus is constantly changing. As a result, a protein on the outside of the virus can change so that it does not completely match the virus in the administered vaccine: we then speak of a mismatch. However, this does not mean that the vaccine no longer protects at all. The effectiveness now amounts to 36%, comparable to the effectiveness of the past 10 flu epidemics. The researchers previously suspected that this could be lower due to a mismatch. The fact that the effectiveness is higher than previously expected is positive. There is currently a flu epidemic in the Netherlands.
Compound
The World Health Organization WHO advises every year against which influenza virus strains it is best to vaccinate. That estimate always takes place in February for the flu season that takes place in the autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. Sometimes there is a mismatch and the vaccine does not match the viruses that occur during the flu season.
flu shot
Every year, influenza causes many hospital admissions, serious complications and deaths in the Netherlands. For that reason, everyone from the age of 60 is offered a flu shot every year. People with a chronic medical illness, such as lung disease or heart problems, are also offered the flu shot. The flu vaccine that is given in the Netherlands protects against four different types of the flu virus.
In a small group of patients with a greatly increased risk of a seriously complicated course, early treatment with antiviral drugs is possible at the first symptoms of flu.
Source: RIVM
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