Carmel, CA Flu Vaccine Not Very Effective, The Elderly Were The Hardest Hit

This year’s flu hit a lot of people hard, even those who got the flu vaccine.  A new study found that it was only 23% effective due to the fact that it didn’t include a vaccine for the bug that made most people sick (H3NS).  That’s one of the worst performances in the last decade since U.S. Health Officials began tracking this data.  In the best years, however, the vaccine is only 50-60% effective.  Each year, the vaccine is reformulated based on what experts like those at the Centers for Disease Control and prevention believe will be most effective.  The problem is, those decisions are made in February, way before the flu season starts.   In the meantime, new strains developed which drug companies just don’t have time to incorporate into the mix.  The elderly and those with weak immune systems are the hardest hit.  Hospitalization rates for senior citizens were high this flu season than they were during the 2012-2013 flu season, according to the CDC.