Flu season has long been upon us, and we are all hoping desperately to not catch this acutely debilitating virus. The uncomfortable nature of the flu virus leads many to vaccinate themselves every fall. However, why is it necessary to get a shot every year? Also, do these vaccines actually work? If so, what exactly are they protecting us against? I have heard many people talk about how they do not want to get the flu shot this year because they are afraid of getting the flu (both I and my roommate are guilty of this). Is this rumor true?
According to an informational post by the CDC, ‘the flu’ can result from many different viruses and these viruses are constantly changing. Thus, it is necessary to update the flu vaccines every year to better match the primary viruses actually circulating. In a weekly surveillance report for the fourth week of January, the CDC reported that the main viruses predominant this season are A(H1N1)pdm09e, A(H3N2), B-Victoria lineage, and B-Yamagata lineage. In the informational article mentioned earlier, the CDC notes that all regular-dose and recombinant flu vaccines this season will be quadrivalent, protecting against these four viruses. The regular-does vaccine contains inactivated flu virus, whereas the recombinant vaccine is made through a technological process that does not require the actual flu virus in its production. Reader, please note that NEITHER of these vaccines has a live virus in it. It is IMPOSSIBLE for these vaccines to give you the flu. For those who would like to avoid an injection, however, there is also a live attenuated vaccination option (which contains actual live flu virus) that can be administered as a nasal spray.
Clearly, there are a lot of flu vaccine options. However, are these vaccines actually effective? While there is not much data on the effectiveness of this year’s vaccine yet, the CDC does note that flu vaccines are generally between 40%-60% effective at preventing the flu. Thus, while vaccines are not a perfect preventative, they are definitely helpful. According to Dr. William Schaffner (medical director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases) in a recent ABC news article, “The flu season began early this year and took off aggressively…So far, there is no sign that the momentum of the annual epidemic is slowing.” Additionally, this article notes that the flu virus has already killed 10,000 people this year. In light of this information, it seems only logical to do all that you can to prevent yourself from this spreading sickness. In other words, next time CVS offers you $5 to get the flue shot (yes, they pay YOU, and yes, CVS has actually done this) you had better take them up on that offer! Also, in case you have not yet been able to discern it, this whole post is basically me yelling at myself for choosing to not get paid to protect myself from the flu. Here’s to hoping it doesn’t strike me during midterm season…
Microbes and Musings 