October 4, 2024 – The CDC says the flu vaccine used this flu season could also be less effective than the one used last flu season, based on reports of how well the vaccine works in five South American countries.
The seasonal flu vaccine reduced the chance of hospitalization by 35% for high-risk groups in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay CDC said. In the last flu season, the vaccine was 51.9% effective in these countries.
The effectiveness of the vaccine “could be similar in the northern hemisphere” if similar flu viruses are circulating, the federal health department said.
How well the vaccine works in South America, where the flu season lasts from April to September, gives an idea of how well the vaccine will work in North America, where the flu season typically lasts from October to April.
During the last flu season in North America, the CDC estimated The vaccines were 41% to 44% effective in stopping flu-related hospitalizations in adults and 52% to 61% effective in children.
This yr's flu vaccines for the United States, all trivalent (protect against three viruses), goal the three likely circulating strains – H1N1, H3N2 and Influenza B (Victoria). Health officials say everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu shot.
According to the CDC, an estimated 75 million people within the U.S. contracted the flu between October 2023 and April 2024, leading to 900,000 hospitalizations and between 17,000 and 100,000 deaths.
The Data concerning the South American nations got here from a research network coordinated by the Pan American Health Organization.