Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the flu vaccine is not a very good match for B/Victoria. He said that it is not an awful match, but it is not a very good match, referring to the strain.
Effects on children
Children are particularly susceptible to influenza B/Victoria. Dr. Fauci stated that even though the match of B/Victoria is not great, a flu shot can still save a child's life. According to CDC data that was released last week, that is because the vaccine is a 58% match for B/Victoria. If your child is exposed to B/Victoria, there is a 58% chance that their flu shot will be well matched to protect the children against it.
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There is a 42% chance that the vaccine won't be well-matched for B/Victoria, so the flu shot won't do a good job of keeping children from getting the flu. But it could help protect children from getting so sick that they develop complications that can be life-threatening. Also, the shot will likely prevent any infection with the other major strain of the flu that is out there right now. The vaccine is a good match for that strain called the H1N1.
Unavailable flu shots
The final assessment of the flu vaccine, to see how effective it was will not be available at least until the season has ended. Vaccine not matching with the flu is not unusual, as is happening this year with B/Victoria. The scientists are trying to match the vaccine to what is making people sick, but it is difficult. Every spring, they try to predict what kind of strains will be out the following flu season, which usually starts in October. However, to some extent, it is a bit of a guessing game.
Sometimes, it works better than others. This year's match to the H3N2 strain of the virus is 34% which experts called a poor match. But it is not very consequential since there has been little H3N2 this flu season.
Dr. Arnold Monto, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health stated that every year, there is always some degree of mismatch. Dr. Fauci is making an effort to create a universal flu vaccine that would theoretically cover every strain of the flu over numerous flu seasons.
Flu symptoms to watch out for
When you have the flu, you will have chills, fever and you will feel fatigued. The normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and anything that measures above that is technically a fever, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Fevers are also usually accompanied by fatigue, excessive weakness, and chills.
You will also experience headaches and body aches. Since your body is responding to the foreign invasion with muscle inflammation and tissue, experts say that body aches and headaches are common. Combined with dehydration and fever, this can cause you to feel pain and aches.
Cough and sore throat are also some signs of flu. Post-nasal drip and coughing are common flu symptoms and it makes it very problematic for those with underlying pulmonary disorders like chronic bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. A runny nose, congestion, diarrhea, and vomiting are also some signs of flu.