Compounding the issue is the fact that about half of the H3N2 viruses this season are “drifted” or different than those included in the flu vaccine this year, making the vaccine less effective.
Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, director of the CDC, warned that this could mean more people will get the flu, thus “crowding emergency departments and hospitals.”
Dr. Frieden and the CDC are urging everyone to get vaccinated. “We can save lives with a three-pronged effort to fight the flu: vaccination, prompt treatment for people at high risk of complications, and preventive health measures.”
H3N2 flu viruses have been the dominate strain of flu virus in flu seasons past, including the 2012-13, 2007-08 and 2003-04 seasons.
More articles on influenza:
CDC: This year’s flu vaccine not effective on season’s predominate strains
Americans unlikely to seek treatment for the flu, survey finds
Twitter could be the next big flu tracking tool
