CDC Expects More Effective Flu Vaccine This Year

Atlanta, GA—The CDC has taken measures to ensure that this season’s flu vaccine is more effective than the version available last year. Because of viral mutations, last year’s flu vaccine was only about 23% effective against the circulating dominant strain. Typically, the overall efficacy rate is between 50% and 60%. The new vaccine has been reformulated to match mutational changes to three dominant strains of the flu, H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B. The CDC recommends that everyone aged ≥6 months receive a flu vaccine, especially the elderly and the immunocompromised. Approximately 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 die from influenza complications each year.

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