Are the flu shots effective this winter?

[kusumat]

I am still debating whether I should give one to my 6 month old baby. It wasn't effective last year. How's about this year? Any ideas? TIA!

[caheinz]

From what I've heard, it's thought to be a good match for the type more likely to cause serious illness (A, I think), and less good (but still potentially some benefit) for the type with less severe illnesses (B?).

It's still not clear which strain will dominate this year, though.

[sarahsthreads]

I've heard the same thing. It does seem to be more effective this year than last, as well - last year I knew a lot of people who got the flu shot and then proceeded to spend a week plus sick with the flu later in the season. As far as this year... I got the flu shot in the fall. And I came down with - as the nurse carefully put it - an "influenza type virus" a few weeks ago. But I still got DD2 her flu shot last week at her 6 month appointment, as there are more strains of the flu than the one I got (and somehow miraculously didn't pass along to anyone else, thank heavens.)

Sarah :)

[pharmjenn]

I work in a hospital, and we have had much fewer admissions for patients with flu this winter than last. So I would have to say it must be more effective.

[JTsMom]

Beth (brittone2) has posted some studies in the past which show that the flu shot is no more effective in children under 2 than a placebo. I'm borrowing this quote from her from another post found here:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=304797&highlight=shot




There have been review studies out that show the flu vax is no more effective than a placebo in children under 2 (yet the recommendation is to vax every child over 6 months of age). Some new studies have come out questioning how effective the flu vax in the elderly as well. I have dug into it a bit with respect to asthma, and have found similar review studies questioning whether it really leads to decreased hospitalization/death in that population as well. Since those are the groups that are most at risk, it makes me question exactly how well it works. JMHO.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7574/912 (http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7574/912)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15106150 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15106150)
old thread with several links to studies:
http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/sho...d.php?t=238585 (http://windsorpeak.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=238585)

[Ceepa]

This year is much better than last year's. We're all set for flu shots here. No problems.

[wendibird22]

We haven't had any reported cases of flu in my county. BUT, I don't know if that's a result of a better flu vax this year or just an overall lower incidence of flu.

[brittone2]

updated review: (from 2008)
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccines are efficacious in children older than two but little evidence is available for children under two. There was a marked difference between vaccine efficacy and effectiveness. No safety comparisons could be carried out, emphasizing the need for standardisation of methods and presentation of vaccine safety data in future studies. It was surprising to find only one study of inactivated vaccine in children under two years, given current recommendations to vaccinate healthy children from six months old in the USA and Canada.

from:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18425905?ordinalpos=16&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

[g-mama]

In Virginia, where I live, there have been many cases of the flu, according to our pediatrician.

All three of my boys had the flu shot and two of them got the flu over Christmas. It lasted 8 or so days and was absolutely horrible.

[JBaxter]

My sister in the nurse manager in a small hospital ER in PA and she said she hasnt had anyone test + for the actual flu. Norovirus on the other hand is HORRIBLE around here.