This year's flu vaccine not too useful

Nurses COVID

Published

(AP) ATLANTA-It turns out this year's flu shot is doing a startlingly dismal job of protecting older people, the most vulnerable age group.The vaccine is proving only 9 percent effective in those 65 and older against the strain of the flu that is predominant this season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. Health officials are baffled as to why this is so. But the findings help explain why so many older people have been hospitalized with the flu this year.

Despite the findings, the CDC stood by its recommendation that everyone over 6 months old get flu shots, the elderly included, because some protection is better than none, and because those who are vaccinated and still get sick may suffer less severe symptoms.

Neener, neener, neener, told ya so.

NicuGal, MSN, RN

2,743 Posts

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Half my co-workers, including myself, came down with Influenza A and B!!! Could have been sicker I guess, but still. And ours was mandated.

Yeah, we've been seeing a lot of flu in vaccinated patients this season. It must be a poor match this year.

morte, LPN, LVN

7,015 Posts

maybe a poor match, maybe sloppy habits by the general populace that think the vaccine is "all that".

Nurse2BeInGA

52 Posts

Are all medical facilities and nursing schools in Georgia requiring those? I've never had a flu vaccine before, but my nursing school is requiring it because the clinical sites require it.

shicurls, BSN

61 Posts

Specializes in MICU/Postpartum.
Are all medical facilities and nursing schools in Georgia requiring those? I've never had a flu vaccine before but my nursing school is requiring it because the clinical sites require it.[/quote']

Pretty much, when I was in clinicals some facilities required staff members that were not vaccinated to wear masks throughout their shift.

Indy, LPN, LVN

1,444 Posts

Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

I got influenza A this year from a patient, and gave it to my husband before either of us knew what hit us. Our entire household was vaccinated. It wasn't a good week. I shudder to think how it might have been with no vaccine. My daughter took one look at us and said "oh no" and got out bleach wipes for the bathrooms and the kitchen. Then she promptly stayed away from us. Smart gal.

MunoRN, RN

8,058 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.

It's never been all that effective in the elderly or otherwise compromised patients, there seems to be a myth that the vaccine is intended to solely protect the vaccine recipient.

The elderly depend on those around them being vaccinated more than they depend on the vaccine they receive themselves.

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