This year's flu vaccine is not as effective as health officials would have liked, and researchers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it is because this year's strain of the virus has mutated.
Half of the 85 influenza samples that were collected and analyzed from October 1 to November 22 were different than the strains that were included in this year's vaccine.
The whole process of creating the annual flu vaccine is one big guessing game. Influenza vaccines are produced in eggs, and take about six months to manufacturer, which means they have to start making the vaccines in February or March. This is before the time that they know which strain is going to cause the most issues, and the decision of which strains to include in the vaccine is based on global surveillance of viruses that are circulating at the end of the prior flu season.
The flu shot you get includes three or four strains of influenza. The strategy tends to work, but if the virus mutates - as it has this year - or an unexpected strain emerges, then you're not going to be protected.
The CDC recommends that everyone six months or older get vaccinated for the flu annually.
Whether your are vaccinated or not though, recognizing the symptoms of the flu is important. Signs of the flu include fever, aches, chills, tiredness, and sudden onset. It is important to call your doctor immediately because there are ways to lessen the effects, such as prescription antiviral medications like Tamiflu, but these must be taken very early on.
Effective ways of decreasing your risk of catching influenza is frequent hand washing and covering your coughs and sneezes.
