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The forecast for the flu is cloudy and it is too early to tell if the US will experience a third consecutive miserable season, but health officials said Thursday they will not delay the vaccination.
While the vaccine did not offer much protection in the past two years, specialists have tweaked the recipe in the hope that it will be better able to fight a nasty strain this time around.
"Getting vaccinated will be the best way to prevent what's going on," Associated Press told Dr. Daniel Jernigan, head of flu at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year's flu had been twofold: a new strain triggered a second wave of disease just as the first one was dying out, making it one of the longest flu seasons ever recorded. The previous year had the largest number of deaths from influenza in recent decades.
Until now, the flu season does not seem to start early, Jernigan said. The CDC urges people to be vaccinated against the flu by the end of October. Influenza generally starts circulating in November or December, and peaks in February.
Scientists are looking for better influenza vaccines, and the Trump administration last week advocated a renewed effort to modernize production. Most of the current vaccine is produced by the growth of influenza virus in chicken eggs, a 70-year-old technology with some flaws. It takes too much time to prepare new doses if a surprise strain appears. And curiously, new production techniques could simply increase efficiency.
For the time being, vaccinated and still ill people can expect a less serious illness – and a lower risk of pneumonia, hospitalization or death, said Dr. William Schaffner of the US. Vanderbilt University and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
He is known to say to such patients, "I'm always happy to see you're still here to complain."
Here are some things to know:
Who needs the vaccine?
Everyone, from 6 months, according to the CDC.
Influenza is particularly dangerous for people over 65, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health problems, such as heart disease, asthma or other lung disorders, or even diabetes .
But he can kill even young and healthy. On average, the CDC says the flu kills about 24,000 Americans each year.
How many are vaccinated?
Not enough, says the CDC. Due to the rapid mutation of the flu, a new vaccine is needed every year. Last year, 45% of adults and 63% of children were vaccinated, according to figures released Thursday.
Some groups do a little better. Nearly three-quarters of children under five were vaccinated last year and just over two-thirds of the elderly.
How bad will this year be?
Influenza is one of the most unpredictable enemies of medicine.
For example, last fall started quite slowly. But in February, a notorious strain for a more serious illness, called H3N2, suddenly appeared. Worse, even though the vaccine each year contains protection against the H3N2 virus, the circulating virus had mutated, which did not produce the expected results. A vaccine that worked well during the first months of the flu season was suddenly no longer used.
But if this dreaded virus comes back, this year's vaccine has been updated to better match it.
Many options
Manufacturers say that 162 million to 169 million doses of vaccine will be available this year, and that people can ask questions about different choices. Most offer protection against four influenza strains.
Traditional flu shots are for all ages. One brand uses a needle-free injector for phobic phobic adults that pushes the vaccine through the skin. And the FluMist nasal spray is generally intended for healthy people aged 2 to 49 years.
Two brands specifically address the crowd over 65, whose weakened immune system does not respond as well to traditional vaccines. One is high dose and the other contains an extra compound stimulating the immune system. These brands protect against three strains of flu, including the most severe.
And people with egg allergy have two options: a brand grown instead in mammalian cells and another based on genetic technology and insect cells.
New interest in vaccines without eggs
New technologies could accelerate production, which is currently a six-month process.
The attention of scientists also attracts the attention of scientists for another reason: some strains change slightly by growing in chicken eggs, an adaptation that can make the vaccine obtained a little less protective.
This is mainly a problem for these disturbing H3N2 strains. Mr Schaffner explained that some doctors are already considering using egg-free brands for high-risk patients, although the resulting difference is unclear.
Other steps to take
Cover coughs and sneezes. Wash your hands frequently during the flu season. A recent study has shown that washing is better than hand sanitizers.
Learn about anti-flu treatments if you are at high risk for complications.
And most importantly, stay home if you are sick not to spread misery.
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