Thinking of skipping the flu vaccine just because you’ve heard that last year’s vaccine wasn’t that effective?   If so, experts will likely take you to task.
According to Dr. Frank S. Virant, who practices at the Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center in Seattle, Wash., chances are slim that last year—which had an overall vaccine effectiveness rate of 44 percent--will repeat itself.

“Some people might be frustrated that they ‘got the flu anyway,’” “Dr. Virant says, “but they should realize this phenomenon only happens every 15 to 20 years--where the best guess of serotypes ends up being incorrect because of genetic shift of the viruses. In other words, this is very unlikely to occur again for several years.”
Also, last year’s flu vaccine still provided cross-protection benefits. But, according to Luke Noll, Director of Corporate Accounts for Vaccines and Influenza Treatment at FFF Enterprises, those who are unaware of this might still question whether a flu vaccine is worthwhile.

“That will be the primary myth and belief that must be overcome next year,” Noll said, referring to the 2008-2009 flu season, which could begin as early as October and continue potentially through May.

Myths are nothing new when it comes to flu vaccines. At the 2008 National Flu Vaccine Summit in May, which was sponsored by the American Medical Association (AMA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a session was devoted to the topic. And yet myths themselves—if they keep people from getting the flu vaccine—could potentially affect whether a flu vaccine will work overall.

According to the CDC, one factor that contributes to a flu vaccine’s effectiveness is whether vaccination programs are able to successfully vaccinate people before the flu season starts.

Two other relevant factors are the similarity or ‘match’ between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation, and the age and health status of the person getting the flu vaccine—an important consideration for those with immune deficiencies.

In the 2007-2008 flu season, two of the three strains making up the flu vaccine were not good matches for the viruses circulating in the population, and the vaccine was only 44 percent effective overall, according to the CDC.

Last year’s vaccine was not effective at all against the B circulating strain. But in terms of the A circulating strain, the vaccine performed better, providing cross-protection benefits against different, but related viruses, said Noll.

So “when you talk about the overall effectiveness of the flu vaccine for the past 16 out of 20 years, it was a good match,” Noll stated, referring to the vaccine’s 58 percent effectiveness against circulating influenza A viruses.

In a good year, when the vaccine strains and the viruses are well-matched, the flu vaccine can reduce the chances of getting the influenza by 70 percent to 90 percent.

For immune-deficient patients, whether to get vaccinated is of special concern. “Although some patients with primary immune deficiency may not respond well to flu vaccine [poor immune response], it certainly is worth doing in an effort to try to diminish the intensity of disease,” explained Dr. Virant.

It’s also important that those around patients with immune issues receive the vaccine. “It's a great idea for family members and close acquaintances to get a flu shot because this is the most likely source of exposure, and again, the immune response of the patient is often not great,” Dr. Virant continued.

In terms of what vaccine immune-deficient populations should receive, Dr. Thao N. Tran, an immunologist at the Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center, pointed out that “the CDC recommends the use of inactivated (killed) influenza virus vaccine in patients with weakened immune system and their family members, rather than the live, attenuated (weakened) influenza virus (LAIV)vaccines. LAIV are the nasal spray influenza vaccines such as FluMist.”

For the upcoming 2008-2009 flu season, the flu vaccine will include three new strains, which were chosen based on information gathered in 2007-2008 from 122 national influenza centers in 94 countries.

According to Noll, the rarity of changing all three strains in one season may have presented a challenge for manufacturers.

“Three new strains add a challenge for manufacturers, primarily because of a lack of experience in working with the new strains,” Noll said in May, just after attending the summit.

However, direction was available from manufacturers who had worked with two of the strains in the vaccine for the Southern Hemisphere’s current season, which comes months earlier to that region before hitting the Northern Hemisphere.

According to the CDC, healthcare providers should offer vaccination for the flu as soon as it’s available, ideally by October. However, vaccination should continue throughout the season, as the length of each season varies, and even vaccines given midway through a season are still beneficial.

Flu vaccination myths will never go away, but patients don’t have to let them affect their health. Remember, flu vaccination is a crucial part of staying healthy.

By: Chris Ground
Senior Vice President, Sales
FFF Enterprises, Inc.