Early estimates on the effectiveness of this yr’s flu vaccines point out they might be much less efficient at stopping hospitalization than in years previous, primarily based on information 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 international locations like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Throughout the 2023 flu season in these similar international locations, the vaccine efficacy in opposition to hospitalizations because of the flu was estimated to be about 52 p.c.
The brand new information was primarily based on influenza circumstances that occurred between March and July of this yr.
The report famous that the vaccine nonetheless “significantly lowered the risk for hospitalization.”
“Although Southern Hemisphere influenza VE is not necessarily predictive of Northern Hemisphere VE, it can help the Northern Hemisphere plan contingencies for vaccination demand and use,” the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) said.
“These data suggest that influenza vaccine demand was still low post–COVID-19 but that vaccination prevented approximately one third of influenza-associated hospitalizations among groups at high risk for influenza-associated complications.”
Flu vaccination protection has been on the decline within the U.S. lately, with lower than half of the inhabitants over six months getting the shot because the 2022-2023 season. Final yr, 47.2 p.c of the inhabitants over six months received the shot.
The CDC’s weekly report famous that flu vaccine protection within the South American international locations had been nonetheless beneath pre-COVID-19 norms.
“This finding is consistent with postpandemic declines in vaccination coverage across the Americas associated with vaccine misinformation, hesitancy, and disruptions in routine immunization services, prevalent during 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 to administer their very own flu vaccines at house with out the presence of a healthcare skilled. The FDA accepted a nasal spray as the primary self-administered flu vaccine final month.
