Flu Vaccine Closer Match This Year, Time To Get Vaccinated

[orangeblossom]

I can't copy the link, but it's from Medscape.

Led by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Tom Frieden, MD, a host of healthcare organizations issued an annual plea today for influenza vaccination for everyone aged over 6 months, noting that this year's vaccine would be a closer match for the H3N2 strain still circulating from last year.



At a media briefing, Dr Frieden rolled up his sleeve and received a shot that was captured by dozens of video cameras and smartphones. He noted that just under half of all Americans eligible were vaccinated for influenza last year, and that rates were highest for children aged 6 to 23 months (75%) and 2 to 4 years (68%), and for adults aged over 65 years (67%). But vaccination rates are lagging among 18- to 64-year-olds, hovering below 40%.



"We need to get more young and middle-aged people vaccinated," said Dr Frieden. He said officials were hopeful, given "increasing opportunities for vaccination," including at pharmacies, urgent care centers, and workplaces.



Dr Frieden also discussed data just issued by the CDC on vaccination coverage during the 2014-2015 flu season for pregnant women and healthcare professionals. Only about half of pregnant women were vaccinated, similar to the 2013-2014 flu season ( MMWR. 2015;64:1000-1015). Overall, just over 77% of healthcare workers were vaccinated, similar to the 75% who received a shot in the previous flu season. But there are still significant gaps, especially among providers working in long-term-care settings, where only 64% were vaccinated in 2014-2015.



A Closer Match



The 2014-2015 vaccine was ineffective against the predominant A strain that was circulating, A/Switzerland/9715293/2013-like virus (H3N2). The H3N2 strains are associated with worse illness and higher mortality. Not surprisingly, the rate of flu-related hospitalizations among people aged 65 years or older was the highest recorded in the 10 years since the CDC began tracking that measure. The H3N2 strain also hit children hard. The agency reported 145 lab-confirmed pediatric influenza deaths, which is likely an underestimate, said the CDC.



Dr Frieden said that the 2015-2016 flu vaccine would more closely match that H3N2 strain, which, according to the latest surveillance data, continues to circulate. Manufacturers have prepared 171 million doses of influenza vaccine, of which 40 million have already been distributed, he said.



The CDC director urged Americans to get vaccinated this year, despite the low effectiveness of the 2014-2015 vaccine.



"Even in a year when the flu virus isn't well matched, it remains the single best thing you can do to protect you, your family, and your community against influenza," he said.



Progress in Health Workers



Though overall vaccination rates in healthcare workers were similar the last two flu seasons, they are up almost 14% from the 2010-2011 season, according to the CDC.



Coverage in 2014-2015 was highest among pharmacists, at 95%, followed by physicians and nurses, at 89%. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants had 87% coverage. The lowest rates were among assistants and aides, at 64%.



Healthcare workers who were required to be vaccinated by their employer had the highest rates (96%), and for those who were not required, rates got a boost when vaccination was offered on-site at no cost, especially if offered on more than one day (74%-84%). But vaccination rates slipped to 44% for settings where the vaccine was not required, promoted, or offered on site, said the CDC.



The agency is reaching out to ensure greater health worker coverage, especially in nursing homes and other long-term-care settings, Daniel Jernigan, MD, director of the CDC's Influenza Division, told Medscape Medical News.



"We really encourage those systems that run long term care facilities and the physicians that are over those systems to really encourage their staff to get vaccinated," he said.



Overall, though, the vaccination uptick among healthcare workers is worth noting, said William Schaffner, MD, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee.



"It's a growing success story," Dr Schaffner told Medscape Medical News.



Dr Schaffner said he expects more coverage especially as state and local regulatory agencies are increasingly focusing on immunization of healthcare workers.

[sparrowsong]

I usually get one, but I wait a little later in the season. I want to still have decent coverage feb/mar. I'll probably aim for early nov or so?

[MrsAxilla]

Got mine today!

[charminglife]

My (otherwise healthy) 43 year old father died of the flu when I was 14. I wish he had gotten a flu shot - it may have saved his life. Get your shot and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

(end PSA)

[tacosforlife]

When is the best time to get a flu shot?

[bowies]

DS is scheduled for Oct 9 and I'm scheduled for Oct 19 at work. The only time I've ever gotten the flu is when there was a shortage in vaccines.

[pixy0stix]

Sept 23, 2015 16:31:15 GMT -5 sparrowsong said:

I usually get one, but I wait a little later in the season. I want to still have decent coverage feb/mar. I'll probably aim for early nov or so?

This isn't how it works. The vaccination isn't going to fade in a year.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Our clinic starts next week. I can't wait.

[orangeblossom]

Sept 23, 2015 16:49:53 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

When is the best time to get a flu shot?

Now. The season officially starts October 1st, but cases have already been seen. 


ETA: now in thee sense, don't wait. Get them as they become available most places should be stocked and ready to go by now. I got mine earlier this week. 

[heyjude]

My OB does not get this until next week. Boo.

[kirra]

I'm glad it will be a closer match.

I got one a couple of days ago. It almost feels late. People are already testing positive, and it takes a couple of weeks to become effective.

[pixy0stix]

I'll be getting mine in 2 weeks at my work's health fair.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

We get ours at work on October 1!

[Cicero]

M and I got them this week. Just need to send H off for his.

[WanderingWinoZ]

DD got her 1st shot a few weeks ago & goes back for the 2nd one in 2 weeks.

My midwife didn't ahve them yet, but probably will by my visi in 3 weeks.

[pierogigirl]

I got mine 2 weeks ago. The kids are getting theirs next week. DH has to schedule his, but he's usually on top of it.

[bugandbibs]

Getting mine when the shot clinic opens on 10/3. I'm annoyed I have to wait that long. I already have patients with the flu

[pescalita]

Sept 23, 2015 17:08:31 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Sept 23, 2015 16:49:53 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

When is the best time to get a flu shot?

Now. The season officially starts October 1st, but cases have already been seen. 


ETA: now in thee sense, don't wait. Get them as they become available most places should be stocked and ready to go by now. I got mine earlier this week. 

The only timing I try to do is to wait until September because that's when you're considered "officially" vaccinated for this year. ie if you're required to be vaccinated for school or work or something they assume you had last years vaccine if you got the shot on August 31st.

[sangria]

Thanks for the reminder! Time to get myself and the girls set up with appts. Surprisingly, DH was ahead of the game already got his. I was shocked.

[mrsdewinter]

I got mine yesterday! My husband got influenza B in October last year, so I want to get us all vaccinated ASAP this year.

[turboteal]

Got it yesterday!

[Deleted]

Our pedi doesn't have them in yet. Last year they didn't get them until November. Hope it's sooner this year.

I get mine at Target because the pharmacist is a hottie.

[josieposy]

Think my office clinic is in a few weeks, but I have to get the kids in.

[erbear]

Kids got theirs last week. My school doesn't do them until November :/

[earlgreyhot]

I usually get ours around mid-October. My DD's 15m appointment is 10/26 so that's when she'll get hers and probably DS will get his then too. I'll stop off at my doc around that time to get mine as well.

[Elsa]

Oh good- despite getting the shot last year, I still got the flu. It was a "light" case but I still wanted to die. Tamiflu helped immensely, but I don't want to go through that again.

I need to ask my workplace when they will be available, and I need to make an appt for M. Even though the shot didn't prevent the illness last year, it made it lighter. And if that was a light case, I don't ever want to experience a bad case.

[saz]

DD already got her first dose and I need to get the rest of us in, thanks for the reminder, we will be sure to get it ASAP!

I'd like to hear some thoughts on shot vs nose spray. I'm kind of scared of needles so opted for nose spray last year, but I had some kind of immune response or maybe just a poorly timed cold. Would I be better off with the shot?

[racegrrl714]

Got my very first flu shot (and the pneumonia vaccine! ) last week!

[sparkythelawyer]

Spray is not good if you around the elderly or immuno comprised.

[Deleted]

Dh will get his at his oncologist next week. I'll get mine the first day of my employer's shot clinic.

Everyone get one. Please don't make me rage out on here this year.