The Washington State Department of Health has released a statement about the estimated efficacy of this year’s flu vaccine. Preliminary data estimates the vaccine to be about 36 percent effective in mitigating flu illness. Flu activity is expected to remain high for the next several weeks, so it’s not too late to get vaccinated. Those at highest risk for infection are those over age 65 and young children.
“There are important steps to take to avoid getting the flu: get a flu shot every year, avoid contact with sick people, wash your hands often and stay home if you’re sick. No vaccine is 100 percent effective, but they still provide some protection against serious flu complications, including death,” Washington State’s Communicable Disease Epidemiologist Dr. Scott Lindquist said. Read the full release. (Jessica Symank)
