As expected, this year flu vaccines are not working as well as in years past and are only about 23 percent effective.
USA Today reported that health officials have said that flu vaccines are working for 23 percent of people this flu season. That’s less than 1 in 4 people. Usually, flu shots are 60 to 65 percent effective.
"This speaks to the fact that we need better flu vaccines," said Arnold Monto, an influenza expert and professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
For the week that ended Jan. 3, Bloomberg News noted that 7 percent of deaths reported through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were flu and pneumonia-related. That number is higher than the 6.9 percent threshold for an epidemic this time of the year.
Unfortunately, the numbers are not surprising to officials who had predicted that this would be a very difficult flu season because of the H3N2 influenza strain. However, health experts say that it is still best to get a flu shot if you have not already and wash your hands frequently to help minimize the spread of germs.