This Is Why You Can Still Catch the Flu after Getting the Shot

You may be wondering why you are home sick with the flu even though you got the flu shot. Experts explained that only ten percent of this year’s vaccine is truly effective in keeping the flu at bay.

California authorities acknowledged that the flu pandemic in the Bay area and another region of the state is mainly due to the fact that flu shots are not 100% effective. Dr. George Han, a public health expert in Santa Clara County, explained that the effectiveness of the vaccines “varies from year to year”.

Australian researchers were the ones to discover that the effectiveness of the flu shot in this flu season is just 10%. A research paper on the issue was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Experts explained that the drug industry first needs to predict what strains of flu may be hitting the population, months in advance. If they get the guesswork right, the vaccine is effective. If they don’t, the effectiveness can linger at around 10%-40%.

Flu Viruses Change

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines, flu shots are more effective against H1N1 flu viruses and less effective when it comes to H2N2 viruses.

Last year, the flu shot was just 39% effective against all flu viruses, and 32% against the H3N2 strain. Experts explained that flu viruses mutate, and this is why many people get the flu even after getting the shot.

However, there are many people who have never gotten the shot and never got sick. This is mainly because they have a strong immune system that does its job without help from the vaccine.

Many doctors recommend boosting up the immune system before the flu season to keep colds and flu at bay. The best immune system boosters are echinacea, the plain-old vitamin C (1,000 mg), and Spirulina supplements.
Image Source: Defense.gov

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Anne-Marie Jackson

Anna grew up on a steady diet of 20th century literature, science-fiction movies and Viking lore. Unsurprisingly she turned into a technology geek with an inclination for history & fantasy.