CDC ISSUES STATEMENT ON EFFICACY OF THIS YEAR’S FLU VACCINE
IT’S WAY UNDER 50%… AGAIN
“I
t’s not possible to predict what this flu season will be like. Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways. While flu spreads every year, the timing, severity, and length of the season usually varies from one season to another. Will new flu viruses circulate this season? Flu viruses are constantly changing so it’s not unusual for new flu viruses to appear each year.” From the CDC’s “Flu Page”.On Wednesday, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) issued a statement saying that, “Influenza viral characterization data indicates that 48% of the influenza A (H3N2) viruses collected and analyzed in the United States from October 1 through November 22, 2014 were antigenically “like” the 2014-2015 influenza A (H3N2) vaccine component, but that 52% were antigenically different (drifted) from the H3N2 vaccine virus.” In English, this means that less than half of the cases of Flu being seen by healthcare providers is not related to the virus in this season’s vaccine. In other words, this year’s Flu Shots provide no benefit whatsoever against the Flu for at least 52% of those who choose to take them. But hey; it’s not much worse that the 60% effectiveness that WebMD touts as “normal” in some years.
If you really want to understand why I would personally never recommend a Flu Shot (or take one myself), click on the following links (HERE, HERE, and HERE). On top of this, the thing that virtually everyone thinks of when they think of the Flu — is not really the Flu at all (HERE). In other words, if you are throwing up; you don’t have the Flu — you have something called “Gastroenteritis” (the “Stomach Bug”), against which, the vaccine will never work.
