Doctors confident this year’s flu vaccine more effective

“So we think the vaccine is a good match”, says Dr. Mertz.

If you’re in need of a flu shot, Rambo Memorial Health Center can help.

Doctors recommend anyone over 6 months old should get the vaccine. The Oneida County Health Department is offering standard and high-dose vaccines. An estimated 171 million to 179 million flu vaccine doses will be available this year, according to Los Angeles Times.

The Health Departments clinics for immunization have opened their doors for any person starting with the age of 9.

Canterbury District Health Board chief executive David Meates took part in an “Immunise your Selfie” competition to encourage staff to get the flu vaccine.

CCAAA flu shot clinics are scheduled at the following locations and times. An appointment is necessary and can be made by calling 770-836-6667. Especially children, people with chronic health problems, and those who work in the service industry or who have high contact with others.

You can talk to a health physician to find out your options.

“Yes I am, and I believe everybody should get one”, one lady said.

It does take two weeks before the vaccine can stop flu in your body.

But this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is optimistic that the latest flu shot formulation – derived from the H1N1-like virus, H3N2-like virus, and influenza B – is supposed to match mutational changes to these three dominant strains of the flu.

This season people are already questioning whether this year’s flu vaccine will keep them from getting sick. As a result, the vaccine was only about 13 percent effective against the main strain.

Dr. Hickey says last year’s outbreak is causing many patients to be more prepared, but not everyone is getting the shot.

Although there’s reason to be optimistic that flu vaccines will offer more protection this year, the authors of the CDC report stressed that “it is not possible” to predict which flu strains will circulate most widely this fall and winter, nor how well the vaccine will fight against them.

About half of the United States population got the shot last year, he added, expressing hope that even more people will get vaccinated this year. “Flu viruses are constantly changing”.

“Near the beginning of the season, the flu strain actually mutated”, Rigler explained.