Flu Vaccine Less Than Half Effective: Flu Report In California

CALIFORNIA — Getting your flu shot is the best way to keep from catching the flu; however, this year’s vaccine has been only 45 percent effective in protecting Americans from this season’s strains of influenza virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s newly released seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness report.

In California, there is reason for residents to worry about catching the flu as there have been 125 outbreaks statewide since the flu season began in the fall. Over the week ending Feb. 22, 64 people died from the flu in California, and thousands more have endured the aches and coughs of the influenza.

In the report, the U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network determined the vaccine’s efficacy in 4,112 children and adults who had flu-like illnesses between Oct. 23, 2019, and Jan. 25. From that data, researchers determined the vaccine was 37 percent effective in preventing Influenza A and 50 percent effective for Influenza B.

While the effectiveness of this season’s flu vaccine may seem low, Dr. John Epling, a former vaccine fellow with the American Academy of Family Physicians, said it’s on par with previous vaccines.

"The meaning of the effectiveness number gets misinterpreted frequently," Epling told AAFP News. "While we would all want an even more effective vaccine, it remains the best way we have to prevent flu and its complications.”

A total of 4,940 flu cases have been reported in California, according to CDC data. Influenza B started out as the dominant strain in California, and it hit young people particularly hard — 12 children have died from the flu in California this flu season. Now, however, Influenza A is the dominant strain in with 2,891 confirmed cases, and that is a concern because it is the strain more deadly for elderly patients who are more likely to die from the flu. A reported 2,049 people have tested positive for Influenza B.

Flu activity remains high in New York City, Puerto Rico and 43 states. In California, reported flu activity is currently high.

The CDC has recorded at least 32 million flu illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 18,000 deaths from flu — 125 of which were children, according to data ending the week of Feb. 22.

Last week, the CDC reported at least 29 million illnesses, 280,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths.

Nationally, the percentage of virus specimens testing positive for influenza decreased from 29.7 percent for the week ending Feb. 15 to 26.4 percent for the latest week.

Typically, the groups most at risk of the flu are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions.

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (though not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

The flu is a highly contagious illness, which is why the CDC urges everyone to take the following steps to protect themselves and others:

Take time to get a flu shot: While there are many different flu viruses, a flu vaccine protects against the viruses that research suggests will be most common. The CDC says it’s not too late to get this year’s vaccine.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• If you are sick with flu symptoms, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs such as the flu.
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.