Adjusted Flu Vaccine Options Available to Seniors This Year

Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about this year's flu shot? Last year's vaccine was ineffective at preventing the flu, especially among seniors. What options are available to me this year? --Seeking Protection Dear Seeking, You're right. Last season's flu shot was not very effective at preventing the flu. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who got the shot were just 19 percent less likely to visit the doctor for flu than people who did not get the shot. In good years, flu shot effectiveness is in the 50 to 60 percent range. The reason for the shot's ineffectiveness last year was because the vaccine was mismatched to the circulating flu viruses, which can genetically shift from year-to-year. This year, U.S. health officials have tweaked the flu vaccines to include last year's missing strain, which will hopefully provide better protection. But a flu shot is still your best defense against the flu. So, depending on your health, age and personal preference, here are the flu vaccine options (you only need one of these) available to older adults this year. Standard (trivalent) flu shot: This traditional flu shot has been around for more than 30 years and protects against three different strains of flu viruses. This year's version protects against two A strains (H1N1 and H3N2), and one influenza B virus. Quadrivalent flu shot: This vaccine, which was introduced two years ago, protects against four types of influenza - t...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news