CDC: Flu shot may be less effective this year

This year’s flu vaccine may not be as effective as it should against one strain of the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Thursday.

Health officials say the Influenza A H3N2 strain mutated after this year’s vaccine was released. Of 85 virus samples tested, 52 percent were different from the strains included in the vaccine.

“We don’t have a really good estimate on exactly how effective the vaccine is going to be,” said Ian Troester-Solbrig, a registered nurse and epidemiologist with Southeastern Idaho Public Health.

The CDC said it would likely take four months to create an updated vaccine. In the meantime, they say the current one is still your best chance of protecting yourself from the flu.

“It still works a little bit, and getting a poke in the arm is much better than getting hospitalized for the flu,” said Troester-Solbrig.