The flu season is just around the corner and there are many cases of influenza are caused by H3N2 this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) issued a health warning to physicians Wednesday night as the virus has mutated making the vaccine incapable of giving 100% protection.
The flu vaccine is designed to give protection against three to four strains of flu. H3N2 is one of the strains but recent study and reports say that this strain of virus has mutated and only half of them have matched the vaccine currently used in the United States, CDC said.
However, flu viruses are always mutating which is called 'drift' and these vaccines which are created months before often do not protect against viruses which have already mutated. Yet, they can provide a little protection too.
According to CDC's flu expert, Joe Bresee in an interview with NBC News, ""We are recommending strongly still that people who haven't been vaccinated get vaccinated. Every year vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against the flu."
He added, "Though reduced, this cross-protection might reduce the likelihood of severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death and the vaccine still protects against half the circulating H3N2,as well as H1N1 flu and the B strains."
However, according to Dr. Bresee, cross-protection might reduce the chance of severe outcomes such as hospitalization and even death. This is why the CDC is advising all individuals 6 months old and older to get a flu vaccine each year. Sometimes, even people who were vaccinated may also be prone to illness, they are reminding doctors to use two antiviral drugs which are called Tamiflu and Relenza which are given within a day of infection to keep them from being hospitalized and to recover faster.
Pediatricians advise patients especially children to have their flu vaccines before the flu season starts.