Early estimates on the effectiveness of this yr’s flu vaccines point out they could be much less efficient at stopping hospitalization than in years previous, primarily based on knowledge from South America, the place the annual flu season happens earlier.
Based on a report from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), the flu shot gave the impression to be 34.5 p.c efficient at stopping hospitalizations this yr in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
In the course of the 2023 flu season in these similar nations, the vaccine efficacy in opposition to hospitalizations as a result of flu was estimated to be about 52 p.c.
The brand new knowledge was primarily based on influenza instances that occurred between March and July of this yr.
The report famous the vaccine nonetheless “considerably lowered the danger for hospitalization.”
“Though Southern Hemisphere influenza VE shouldn’t be essentially predictive of Northern Hemisphere VE, it might assist the Northern Hemisphere plan contingencies for vaccination demand and use,” the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report said.
“These knowledge counsel that influenza vaccine demand was nonetheless low publish–COVID-19 however that vaccination prevented roughly one third of influenza-associated hospitalizations amongst teams at excessive danger for influenza-associated problems.”
Flu vaccination protection has been on the decline within the U.S. in recent times, with lower than half of the inhabitants older than 6 months getting the shot for the reason that 2022-23 season. Final yr, 47.2 p.c of that inhabitants obtained the shot.
The CDC’s weekly report famous that flu vaccine protection within the South American nations had been nonetheless under pre-COVID-19 norms.
“This discovering is per postpandemic declines in vaccination protection throughout the Americas related to vaccine misinformation, hesitancy, and disruptions in routine immunization companies, prevalent through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the report.
This yr’s flu season would be the first time that adults within the U.S. will be capable of administer their very own flu vaccines at residence with out the presence of a well being care skilled. The FDA accepted a nasal spray as the primary self-administered flu vaccine final month.
