No vaccination is completely successful (although some, like polio and measles, come pretty close). Because the human body reacts differently to vaccines depending on factors such as age, the status of the immune system, and so on, even vaccines that are meant to defend against a particular organism that does not vary over time cannot make the claim that they are 100% effective.
This takes us to the topic of flu vaccination. According to the CDC, the efficacy of the flu vaccine may vary from year to year. However, recent studies have shown that vaccination can lower the risk of illness by between 40 and 60 percent in seasons where the vaccine is a good match for the flu viruses circulating.
Why Isn't The Flu Shot Effective In Every Single Case?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an annual revision of the flu vaccination is necessary. Each year, different strains of the flu virus circulate, meaning that the vaccine has to be updated yearly to combat the circulating strains. Therefore, the efficacy shifts from one year to the next, mostly dependent on how well it is predicted which virus strains will be most prevalent.
The flu virus can evolve and alter itself. Therefore, what you do each year is create a vaccine that is effective against several strains of the disease. He then explains that scientists track the spread of influenza all over the globe during the whole year to choose the influenza virus strains that they believe will have the greatest impact on the United States during the forthcoming flu season.
According to the Food and Drug Administration of the United States, all producers of influenza vaccines are manufacturing quadrivalent vaccines this year. These vaccines protect against four distinct strains of the influenza virus and are thus referred to as such.
What Other Factors Contribute To The Efficacy Of The Flu Shot?
Type of vaccine
The effectiveness of the nasal mist vaccination compared to the injectable vaccine has been the subject of much debate amongst medical professionals. Depending on the age of the participants and how healthy they are, several studies have demonstrated that either the nasal spray or the injection is the superior method for administering the flu vaccine. According to Dr. Schaffner, "The efficacy of nasal vaccines and injections is comparable" broadly.
The age of a person
It is possible that the seasonal flu vaccination won't be as effective for elderly persons as it is for younger folks. This is because the immunological response to vaccines declines with age. Two vaccines designed specifically for older people try to elicit a more robust immune response to fight this problem:
High-dose flu vaccination. Compared to a standard flu shot, this vaccine contains four times the quantity of antigen, which is the component of the virus that causes an immune response.
Adjuvanted flu vaccination. This one is quite similar to the traditional flu vaccination, but it also includes an "adjuvant," which is a component that is added to stimulate a more robust immune response.
Why Should You Receive A Flu Shot Every Year?
Continued efforts are being made to develop an even more effective flu vaccination. Some COVID vaccines, for example, use a new technology called mRNA. Several pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, are also working on developing shots that employ the same technology.
Vaccines that combine a COVID booster with an influenza vaccination are now in the research and development stage. According to the National Institutes of Health, researchers are even working on developing a "universal" flu vaccine that would be effective against all different types of influenza. This would be similar to finding the holy grail of medical research.
Until there is a universal flu vaccination that makes annual prediction a thing of the past, the flu vaccines that are now available are the greatest protection we have against the illness (in addition to all the other preventative measures we are advised to be doing right now to avoid COVID-19).
According to Dr. Schaffner, "We have to accept that the flu vaccination is a wonderful vaccine, but it is not flawless." "It's a rather effective vaccination. We have the ability to eliminate the risk of numerous illnesses, as well as hospitalizations and fatalities. Even after receiving the vaccination, there is a small chance that some individuals may still have flu; however, the severity of their flu is considerably less likely to be severe. They have a lower risk of requiring hospitalization and a lower risk of passing away."
