While vaccine effectiveness can vary from year to year, recent studies show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40 and 60 percent among the general population. Even 10% effective is better than nothing because the more people are protected, the less likely to spread it.
Brammer said that other types of flu are around, including influenza A H1N1 and a couple of influenza B viruses. The flu vaccine is very effective against these strains, she said.
“The vaccine doesn’t work as well for H3N2 as we would like, but does work for some, and it may provide partial protection. And there are a lot of H1N1 and B viruses out there,” she said.
And even though the vaccine is only partially effective, it still will prevent many people from coming down with flu and make it milder for those who catch it, Brammer said.
If you do get flu, Brammer suggests taking antivirals such as Tamiflu to reduce the number of days you are sick. The drug works best when taken right when you get sick, so seeing your doctor early is a good move, she said.
The CDC also advises people to wash their hands often to prevent spreading flu and to stay home if they’re sick so they won’t spread it to others.
The flu is being seen throughout the country and is very active in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, the CDC reports.
And CNN reports that the CDC says more than 6,000 people have tested positive for the flu this year. That number is twice that of reported cases at the same time last year.
It’s too early to tell if H3N2 will continue to be the predominant strain or whether H1N1 will surpass it, Brammer said.
Usually, an H3N2 portends a severe flu year, but mild H3N2 years have also occurred, she added.