CDC announces Flu shot less effective this year..

[zoegirltx]

www.cnn.com/2014/12/04/health/flu-vaccine-mutated-virus/

Scientists are concerned about what they're seeing so far this flu season, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday, a day after the agency advised doctors this year's flu vaccine is not as effective because the current strain of the virus has mutated.


Dr. Tom Frieden said researchers are worried that with this particular strain of the virus, "we could have a season that is more severe than most with more hospitalizations and more deaths."

The advisory sent Wednesday said 52% of the 85 influenza virus samples collected and analyzed from October 1 through November 22 were different than the virus strains included in this year's vaccine, indicating a mutation, or drift, of the strain.


The most common strain of the virus reported so far this season is influenza A (H3N2). In the past, this strain has been linked to higher rates of hospitalization and death, especially for those at high risk for complications, which is usually the very young, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions such as asthma or heart problems.

Doctor: You can't get flu from flu vaccine Finding relief this flu and cold season


In February, a panel of experts decided on 3 strains of the virus to include in this year's vaccine, based on data about the common strains circulating around the globe throughout the year. Some years the vaccine is a better match to the circulating strains than others.


It's too late to create another version of the flu vaccine this year, Frieden said, because even with modern production technology, it typically takes about four months to produce the vaccine.

While this year's version is not as protective against a mutated strain, it can still decrease the severity of illness caused by the virus. It can also protect against other circulating strains of the virus, which is why the CDC still recommends getting the vaccine.


"The flu is bad, and you want to do anything you can to prevent getting it and to prevent giving it to other people," said Dr. Lisa Thebner, a pediatrician in New York City. "The vaccine isn't perfect, but it's the best protection we have for prevention."


When asked if people should be concerned, Thebner said "people should always be concerned about the flu."

In a news conference Thursday, Frieden emphasized that if you do start to see flu symptoms -- fever, sore throat, cough, body aches -- it's extremely important to begin taking antiviral medications as soon as possible. Tamiflu and Relenza have been considered most effective at reducing complications when given soon after symptoms begin.


However, he said, most doctors still do not treat people with the antiviral medications, noting that fewer than 1 in 6 people who are severely ill with flu get them. "It is very important that we do better," Frieden said.


Antiviral medications can reduce symptoms, shorten the length of time of the illness, and may keep people out of the hospital.


So far this year, five children in the United States have died from the flu, Frieden said. In past years, studies have shown 98% of children who do die from flu have not been vaccinated, but it was not clear if the five children Frieden cited were vaccinated.


During the 2012-2013 flu season 12,337 people were hospitalized with flu-related illness and 149 children died, according to CDC surveillance data. Ninety percent of those children were not vaccinated.

Overall, flu activity across the country is currently low, according to the latest flu outbreak data from the CDC.

[zoegirltx]

interesting...I always thought you just had to tough it out & wait out hte flu...didn't know you should get meds other than OTC stuff.

[Deleted]

I just want to say that just seeing you posted this made me smile. And now I'll read the actual article. :-)

[Deleted]

So this author recommends more frequent treatment using antiviral meds... whereas every doc I've ever heard from emphasizes how that can overall weaken their effectiveness from overuse. So I'd like to hear from more medical opinions on that point.

And I'll state the obvious that anti-vaxxers will surely have a field day with this. :-\

[zoegirltx]

Dec 5, 2014 7:36:38 GMT -5 @ladydisdain said:

I just want to say that just seeing you posted this made me smile. And now I'll read the actual article. :-)

aww- thanks! Feels good to be discussing these things again


yea & now I'm debating if I want to get mine....

[IIOY]

Dec 5, 2014 7:39:49 GMT -5 @ladydisdain said:

So this author recommends more frequent treatment using antiviral meds... whereas every doc I've ever heard from emphasizes how that can overall weaken their effectiveness from overuse. So I'd like to hear from more medical opinions on that point.

And I'll state the obvious that anti-vaxxers will surely have a field day with this. :-\

I actually posted about this yesterday, albeit with a far snarkier title, but I am skeptical all around about the antiviral meds.  Apparently they can shorten symptoms by about day.  ^o)

Further, Newsweek recently had a front page article about how pharmaceutical companies fail to report negative test results on drugs because, well, that might hinder the drug approval process. As it turns out, there were at  least 70 studies and 100,000 pages on Tamiflu reporting negative or inconclusive results that were not published.  Put together with the published test results, the bottom line is that Tamiflu most likely does not prevent hospitalizations, contagiousness, or complications.

Putting aside the fact that there is no requirement that negative or inconclusive test results be published - this has long been known - I'm willing to bet my house that at least one person within the group at the FDA that approved Tamiflu has a financial stake in Tamiflu. 

So query whether running to your doctor to get some drugs is actually worth the time, effort, and money.

[EloiseWeenie]

Dec 5, 2014 7:39:49 GMT -5 @ladydisdain said:

And I'll state the obvious that anti-vaxxers will surely have a field day with this. :-\

They'll just take out the last 3 paragraphs, because nobody needs those facts.

[IIOY]

Dec 5, 2014 7:53:39 GMT -5 zoegirltx said:

Dec 5, 2014 7:36:38 GMT -5 @ladydisdain said:

I just want to say that just seeing you posted this made me smile. And now I'll read the actual article. :-)

aww- thanks! Feels good to be discussing these things again


yea & now I'm debating if I want to get mine....

I would still get the flu shot.  Aside from the fact that it probably will lessen your symptoms to a degree if you wind up getting the flu, keep in mind that it still prevents the other big strains going around.

[AJL]

Dec 5, 2014 7:39:49 GMT -5 @ladydisdain said:

So this author recommends more frequent treatment using antiviral meds... whereas every doc I've ever heard from emphasizes how that can overall weaken their effectiveness from overuse.

I thought this was only true with antibiotics, not anti-virals.

[orangeblossom]

Do not let the latest report dissuade you from getting a flu shot. Some years are a good match, some years are not. The media will make a big deal out of it either way, but more so when it's not a good match.

Getting a shot is still protective, even if you do end up getting the flu, as it should run it's course a little quicker and less bad than if you hadn't gotte it.

The flu season started early, and this years flu is hitting some particularly hard, so people should be even more inclined to get the flu shot. It protects you and those around you.

It is NEVER too last to get the flu shot.

Steps off soapbox

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2014 8:24:07 GMT -5 AJL said:

Dec 5, 2014 7:39:49 GMT -5 @ladydisdain said:

So this author recommends more frequent treatment using antiviral meds... whereas every doc I've ever heard from emphasizes how that can overall weaken their effectiveness from overuse.

I thought this was only true with antibiotics, not anti-virals.

Aha, see, that clarifies it for me. I can be taught.