In the first few minutes of that video, Dr. Nancy Snyderman says that this year's flu vaccination is spot-on for this year's flu.
I received a vaccination. So did my neighbor. We got them from different places, and we both got the flu. How come?
My sister and her family got their vaccinations, too. When I spent a holiday meal with them, I was just coming down with symptoms. I figured that they would all get sick, but my sister says no one is ill.
I know about a half dozen people who received the flu vaccination, but still got the flu. If the vaccine is a perfect fit for this flu, why does this happen? Is some vaccine expired, or less potent than others?
I get a flu shot every year. I normally do not get the flu.
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Aha. As I look into this, it appears that the effectiveness of this year's vaccine may be below 60%. Last year's vaccine was only 60% effective. I assumed that if the vaccine matched the virus, you were immune. Not necessarily so.
ReplyDeleteIt's officially an epidemic.
ReplyDelete"This year's flu vaccine is 62 percent effective, scientists reported on Friday in the CDC's weekly publication, meaning that almost four in 10 people who receive the vaccine and are exposed to the virus will nevertheless become infected.
"This is considered 'moderate' effectiveness and is in line with previous years' flu vaccines, which range from 50 percent to 70 percent effective, Dr. Joseph Bresee, chief of the CDC's influenza division, told reporters."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/11/us-usa-flu-idUSBRE9080WD20130111
The media is playing this epidemic to the Nth degree... just like everything else. I had a cold when my employer offered the vaccine, so I didn't get one. Now, with all this yapping, it isn't hard not to become a little concerned.
ReplyDeleteIve heard that the vaccine doesn't generally change that much from year to year. A nurse told me that even up to 7 years can go by without significant change to what is going around each year. .. so I'm hoping that if I do come in contact and catch something, my body will fight off the bulk of it.
While elderly, the very young, or those with health issues are at greater risk, the rest of us should not be pummeled with fear mongering from the media. Rest. Stay isolated and don't share if you get it. What we call the flu (vomit and intestinal problems) is really just a different virus, not what the vaccine treats. Flu is respiratory, along with fever and body aches.
I say combine the swine and avian flu
ReplyDeletetogether, at least we will know who the pigs and birdbrains are.