Flu Vaccine a Pretty Good Match for Viruses This Year: CDC
Overall, it has been 48 percent effective, but more severe H3N2 strain a factor in reduced coverage
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Thursday, February 16, 2017
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THURSDAY, Feb. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- It's not perfect, but this year's flu vaccine is a fairly good match for the circulating viruses, U.S. health officials reported Thursday.
Overall, the vaccine is 48 percent effective. For the predominant circulating influenza A type H3N2 flu strain, its effectiveness comes in at 43 percent. But it's 73 percent effective against influenza B viruses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"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," said Brendan Flannery, a CDC epidemiologist.
https://medlineplus.gov/news/fullstory_163624.html
