HealthDay News — According to a study published in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, this year’s influenza vaccine is a fairly good match for the circulating viruses.
These findings were based on data from 3144 children and adults with acute respiratory illness seen during November 28, 2016 to February 4, 2017 at 5 sites with outpatient clinics in the United States.
Overall, the vaccine is 48% effective.
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For the predominant circulating influenza A type H3N2 flu strain, its effectiveness comes in at 43%. It’s 73% effective against influenza B viruses, according to the CDC.
“The effectiveness is a little bit lower than we would like to see, but it’s similar to what we have seen for H3 viruses when the vaccine is a good match for what’s circulating,” Brendan Flannery, PhD, an epidemiologist at the CDC, told HealthDay.
Reference
Flannery B, Chung JR, Thaker SN, et al. “Interim Estimates of 2016–17 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness — United States, February 2017.” Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017; 66: 167–171. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6606a3
