Study Finds 2017-18 Flu Vaccine More Protective Than Believed, Especially Among Children

With many reports about this year’s influenza (flu) vaccine ineffectiveness, a new study shows it is more effective than thought, especially among children. Results of the preliminary study involving 4,600 people, which will be updated at the end of the flu season, show the vaccine is 25 percent effective against the most common strain, H3N2, 42 percent effective against influenza B viruses and 67 percent effective against H1N1 viruses. And, children age 6 months to 8 years responded significantly better to the vaccine than older adults. These results are in contrast with a study in Australia that suggested the vaccine would be only 10 percent effective against the H3N2 virus, as well as a Canadian study that put that figure at 17 percent. Also encouraging is that the H3N2 strain of flu is becoming less common relative to other strains more easily curbed by the vaccine. “Even with current vaccine effectiveness estimates, vaccination will still prevent influenza illness, including thousands of hospitalizations and deaths,” said scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.