An Particularly Efficient Influenza Vaccine

This yr’s flu season is in full swing, however US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky says it’s not too late to get the flu shot for 2022. She’s encouraging households to prioritize getting the flu shot, guaranteeing that the flu shot’s efficacy for 2022 towards the dominant flu strains circulating may be very excessive. Right here’s what you might want to know.

“We glance in actual time as to how effectively we expect the influenza match is to what’s circulating. And proper now, the excellent news is that it seems like it’s a excellent match,” Dr. Walensky defined at a information convention, per CBS News.

Final week, the CDC reported that a lot of the viruses examined are much like the strains officers used to replace flu vaccines this yr. Nonetheless, Dr. Walensky defined that even when the vaccine doesn’t match the dominating, circulating strains, there are important advantages to getting vaccinated.

“We see a 35% lower in charges of hospitalization … which actually simply emphasizes, once we do have a superb match, how way more efficient it is going to be,” she mentioned.

The CDC is urging folks to get their photographs, and assuring of us that the vaccine is efficient this yr issues proper now since flu season not solely bought an early begin — however has additionally been further virulent. CDC data shows that the flu has already contaminated 8.7 million folks within the US, and prompted dying in 4,500 circumstances, and hospitalized 78,000 folks. The flu is on a “record-setting path” that’s not been seen since 2010.

“An annual flu vaccine is one of the simplest ways to guard towards flu,” the CDC states. “Vaccination helps forestall an infection and can even forestall severe outcomes in individuals who get vaccinated however nonetheless get sick with flu.”

Regardless of the push to encourage everybody to get their flu vaccine, flu photographs are pacing behind what they need to. CDC notes that vaccinations for pregnant persons are down 12% from the identical level final yr. Seniors are down 3%, and vaccinations for kids are down 5%.

Along with getting the flu vaccine, the CDC encourages folks to take different healthcare measures, resembling washing their palms incessantly and staying dwelling in the event that they’re sick.

“Within the meantime, what I do wish to say is, one needn’t take watch for CDC motion as a way to put a masks,” Dr. Walensky mentioned.