Flu Vaccine Effectiveness

Recently there have been news reports about the poor match or ineffectiveness of this year's influenza vaccines.

Both the injectable and the FluMist (live attinuated) vaccines that we give at our office have 4 targeted influenza types; 2 A types (H1N1, H3N2) and 2 B types.

Early seasonal surveillance in North America for this year show a predominance of the H3N2 Type A and the Type B strains.

The CDC continues to recommend the FluMist over the injectable flu vaccines for all children 2-8 years of age. The AAP recommends either the FluMist or the injectable flu vaccines for the same age group. Both recommend the injectable flu vaccine for children 6 months to 2 years of age.

Our office continues to recommend the FluMist over the injectable flu vaccine for all eligible children due to studies that suggest it provides better cross-protection against mutated (drifted) influenza strains of both Type A and Type B influenza.

Please Immunize your Family!