Monterey, CA Flu Vaccines Have Mixed Results On Seniors

There has been quite a bit of controversy over which flu vaccine seniors should take.  Many are skeptical of taking one at all.  The vaccines aren’t always effective, and researchers are constantly looking for ways to improve the vaccine so that it will attack constantly changing strains.  Scientists at the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Influenza (there are six centers all over the world) are working diligently to collect data from sick patients globally to try and predict what the best vaccine should be next year.  There’s variability from year to year as to how effective they are.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that this year’s immunization may be less effective due to a mutation in a particular virus strain.  “We’re always playing catch-up with these viruses.  We have to crystal ball what’s happening and what’s going to happen,” Ian Barr, deputy director of the WHO’s Melbourne facility, told The Wall Street Journal.  With thousands of people being studied, hopefully they can develop a more effective vaccine next year.