E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Joe Raedle / Getty Images file
Russell Waddley of Miami received a flu shot in early December from Alina Pastoriza Garcia at a CVS pharmacy's MinuteClinic. Government health officials say new data show that the flu vaccine is about 62 percent effective at preventing illness this year.
Flu activity remains high across the United States, but there are signs this year's bad season may be waning in some areas, government health officials said Friday.
Forty-seven states reported widespread flu activity as of the week ending Jan. 5, up from 41 the previous week. Twenty-four states and New York City reported high levels of flu-like illness, but that was down from 29 states and NYC the week before, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Still, flu is unpredictable and illness could rebound or worsen, said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden.
"Really, only the next week or two will show whether we have, in fact, crossed the peak," Frieden told reporters in a conference call. "Nationally, it's likely that influenza will continue for several more weeks."
Flu activity was elevated all across the U.S., except in the far west region that includes Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii and Nevada, the new report showed.
More than 3,700 people have been hospitalized for the flu since October, and 20 children have died, the CDC says. Most of the hospitalizations have been in people older than 65. For the first time this season, deaths associated with the flu rose into the epidemic category, though just barely, CDC officials said.
Vaccines given to fight this year's flu appear to be about 62 percent effective overall , according to data from some 1,155 children and adults with acute respiratory infections. Of people who got the flu, 32 percent were vaccinated. CDC officials characterize that level as "moderate" effectiveness and infection control experts say it's about what they expect from the shots.
"That's normal," said Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. "It's a good but not a perfect vaccine."
This year's vaccines appear to be about 55 percent effective against influenza A strains, which are responsible for most illness and more severe cases, and about 70 percent effective against influenza B, which is usually less serious, the report showed.
That helps explain why some people who've received flu shots -- which are recommended for everyone older than six months -- say they've still gotten sick. It argues in favor of using antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu to help bolster vaccine effectiveness, or VE, CDC's report said.
"These early VE estimates underscore that some vaccinated persons will become infected with influenza; therefore, antiviral medications should be used as recommended for treatment in patients, regardless of vaccination status," the report concluded.
Related stories:
- Flu jab isn't perfect by a long shot, officials admit
- Bioethicist: Don't be selfish. Get a flu shot.
- Nasty flu season sparks spotty vaccine shortages
- Not always the flu; some may have other viruses
- Who gave you the flu? New app, docs help place blame
Leave a Comment:
The dangerous Nolo Virus being spread by the fear mongering Lame Stream Liberal Media propaganda. The same that played upon the Sandy Hook tragedy to no end with their anti-gun agenda.
47 states affected by the virus, woooooooooo, better go get 10 flu shots at one time to defeat the flu................
Ah, the beauty of natural selection at work.
Huh? Sniffing glue too much this morning?
Sure is enough ignorant ones out there at that.
Sniffing glue is probably more comforting than getting the flu from ineffective flu shots..................
Ignorance can be infecting, please get an anti ignorance shot ASAP, they usually give it in the temple.
Yes natural selection indeed, those who just blindly following orders...only the smart survive?
BINGO Eileen and Tad!
Nope but if it makes you think you're smart by believing that knock yourself out. :)
It "waned" in 1918, then came back with a vengeance. So let's not let our guard down.
Let's hope we never see the likes of that one again.
But if you read the stats on the 1918 flu, most died not from the flu, but rather flu related complications. Modern medicine is far beyond 1918's standards. Lets not forget the majority of those who die from the flu are already compromised, or die from related illness. The statistics are fearful and sorely misleading.
Honestly I work with the public, have kids in schools, I don't know ANYONE with the flu. I had some achey stuff before Christmas...perhaps a mild, mild, mild flu? But I never get shots...and I eat as best as I can afford, take whole foods supplements, hit the sheets early when I feel run down, live on water, not pop and coffee, etc.
Yep, they died from a complication brought on by a severe case of the flu called a cytokine storm. Basically it makes your body attack itself in defending from the virus. It caused the infected to drown in their own fluids. Quit deadly and disturbing because they turn a dark blue before they die.
So what made the 1918 Pandemic so nasty was it attacked those with healthy immune systems. It was those people who died by the millions because it was their healthy immune systems which did them in.
Slowing down or out of states.
At first they were causing panic stating we hadn't seen the end of the flu season- now it's waning in a matter of a couple days- go figure
I will never understand why people get the flu shot. Has it ever occurred to anybody that's the reason it spreads! Hello! People who get the shot get sick and then spread it to other people! I have never gotten the stupid shot and haven't had the flu in years even during my pregnancy when my husband had the flu, a trep throat, and a sinus infection, I didn't catch a single thing. And I had a weaker immune system due to my pregnancy and couldn't take meds mind you. The secret? Echinacea for 2 weeks during flu season. Yes, it actually makes more sense to make your immune system stronger don't you think? Also pieces of raw garlic and taken like pills with water, it's gross but powerful; real raw and unfiltered honey, and cayenne pepper shots which I swear by especially for severe throat infections and coughs. Take all this and you'll be untouchable. I also have never given my two boys any medicine, except natural or homeopathic medicine and they hardly ever get sick. Even when my son had a severe stomach flu with a 104 fever, the only thing that cured it was natural medicine. That was a year ago and he hasn't even gotten sick since then.
If you'd ever taken a senior-level biology course, you'd know why that doesn't make sense.
Your "natural medicine" argument only goes so far. For what it's worth, plenty of "natural" medicines are terribly harmful or addictive. Opium is natural - it's also full of what we know was morphine, codeine, and a slew of other opiates.
Coca leaves are natural - and, as such, are naturally filled with cocaine alkaloids.
Aresenic is natural. Hemlock is natural. Datura is natural. And guess what? They'll all kill you.
When someone you knows gets cancer, and tries the "natural" way, you may very well find your opinion changing. Read about Steve Jobs - his trust in the natural way ended up killing him.
You and everyone who believes as you do are painfully ignorant. Nearly 40,000 people die each year from influenza, about the same that die in car crashes. If you want to drive without a seatbelt, be my guest; if you want to forego the flu vaccine, be my guest. But I have a real problem with you and most others on this site being allowed to procreate - a truly frightening thought.
Beatrice, you are lucky your child did not die. There is no such thing as "stomach flu" it was either a noro-like virus or it was something you poisoned him with!
Stick to you guns. Don't listen to the brainwashed masses. If they were as smart as they boast, this country wouldn't lead the world in chronic illness and morbid obesity.
I agree Beatrice....just use natural medicines...what the Native Americans do....just get some tree bark sap...
Better for you that that synthetic crap you don't know what it is!...
It actually makes you sick!
There’s a virus alright and it’s call stupidity. Next time you fear-a-phobic drones are at the
clinic ask them for the anti-stupidity shot.
Oh wait; they don’t have one because that would eliminate the Democratic
Party!
what a dumb**** comment. Of course I expect you to be the same as your comment so don't bother replying.
And here we are worried aboug gun violence. Nah, see? We should ban viruses instead! Where is the outrage over that. Guns are actually good, because they reduce the numbers of hosts for viruses. Besides, as I always say the only thing that stops a bad virus with a gun, is a good virus with a gun. Or something like that...
Those are mighty big headlines for something that happens over and over every winter.
Let's see you tie this into gun control somehow.
People that don't own guns get the flu less often.
No?
Jeff do you work for the CDC or hospital or doctors office, seem hell bent on everyone getting a flu shot?
Jeff is absolutely correct in what he is trying to teach you folks. Everyone should get the flu shot every year - it would save lives.
Yeah, real effective..
Just a few day ago we were having a flu "emergency". Why, I thought according to the media, we were all going to die. Same thing last year, and the year before, and the year before. Quit trying to cause a fear epidemic.
Find me a quote from the media where they said we're all going to die because of this flu outbreak. I am sure you have one and aren't a pathetic liar. :)
you're born with an immune system...let it do its job to strenghten itself. the more big pharma poison you put into your body the worse you will be through the years. think about it. when i grew up in the 60's and early 70's there was no seasonal flu vaccine.you got the flu, you were sick and got better.these seasonal flu vaccines cost pennies on the dollar to produce and are making big pharma billions. line up for your poison shot sheeple , just hope you don't get too ill after receiving it.
The biggest public health crisis this world faces is allowing ignorant people like you to speak under protection of the 1st Amendment.
People who blindly worship Big Pharma carry the burden of a chronically ill society. Look what their ignorance and arrogance has created. A country of sick, fat stooges. Amazing they can wipe their own asses without medical supervision and FDA approval.
So funny that most of the people that I know that have HAD the flu shot this year have gotten a bad case of the flu...hmmmmmm. Funny how those of us that have NOT had the shot have NOT gotten it. This year, last year or the years before. Ohhh, it must be luck. Do your research people.
I feel sorry for you having no friends. :)
I have had one, as my family and out of 6 people I know in my immediate family that got one only 1 ended up with the flu, and a mild case at that.
So, your experience is either flawed or you're just ranting from an ignorant point of view.
Define "research." (This should be entertaining!)
Another pestilence that is making it's ride through the U.S. and perhaps through the world. Remember the spanish flu?
I have never had the flu shot and never had the flu. The place I work offered me the flu shot twice and turned it down twice and it was free. Heat at 67 during the day, 62 at night, eat and drink right, get enough sleep, some exercise and spend some time outside in the fresh air. I also work in retail and deal with the public not washing their hands at all or correctly after using the restrooms (water,soap, lather, rinse NOT soap, water, rinse), putting their credit cards in their mouth and then handing it to me and so on. I work 2 jobs, around 60 hours a week and doing just fine this winter. Thanks to the media for the scare and everyone telling me I need to get a flu shot or I WILL get the flu.
Hmmmm the "flu" ok here the set up excuse from the media to give an excuse of why the Obama America will fall back into a deep recession... Cant blame Bush anymore the media and Obama ran that dog into the ground. So the Media NBC included will lead the flu as interference for a economic misstep of Obamanomics...
Actually getting the flu or not getting the flu is encoded in your DNA makeup. If everyone around is getting the flu then it is because the genes in their DNA that create the immune system features that protect you against flu have not been exposed to a particular flu strain. Those who do not get the flu and do not medicate theirselves already have the anti-bodies present in their body based upon such anti-body creation being passed onto them by family members who may have already gotten a particular flu strain and once immunized such information would be have been passed onto the next generation through the DNA gene sequencing.
Everyone needs to remember that during the time before medicine, or the prehistoric human era, our ancestors walked the Earth and built up immunities to such diseases. It was only when humans started living in close proximity to each other did viral strains appear.
The reason that flue has not been conquered can be possibly linked to the human itself where a human will create a virus in their body similar to cancerous cells based upon external factors creating the virus where the person would be immune to the virus because it was created by them. Then a sneeze occurs and releases the virus into the air where those without similar DNA encoding that would protect the human from the virus would then become infected.
The Flu virus could also be looked at as being beneficial as when a person gets sick their bodies go into a weakened state getting rid of toxicities during the process that when the person has recovered from the flu virus they often times have a renewed sense of well being.
How many times after having the flu have you felt overjoyed at being able to get back to doing the things that you enjoy doing?
It's all Bush's fault.
I am 46 years old and have never heard of anybody passing away from the flu, until this year. (unless they were elderly) I have never had a flu shot and cannot remember last time I was sick. i am greatful for that. I am not convinced that the flu shot is saving anybody. I think it is spreading the flu by infecting so many people with the vaccination. I would suggest you think for yourself before you listen to government controled media. Wonder what the numbers show in the states that do not have a break out, as far as how many flu shots were taken?
Stats on who got the flu shot and got the flu verus the ones who did not get the flu shot and got the flu would be interesting to see. But no one will ever release that information to anyone.
Geez! Just another pretext for Obama to blame the failing economy, higher unemployment, and increase in medical costs on another economic headwind" !
It's the flu's fault!
Health food stores are full of flu deterrents and cures. Just too bad so, so many people are too brainwashed by Big Pharma to use them. Proud to say I'm not one of them. No flu and two mild colds for as long as I can remember, even though my job had thousands of people breathing in my face for over 30 years.
The flu vaccine actually weakens the immune system and makes you more predisposed to the flues and other illnesses.
The flu vaccine, whether in the shot or nasal form, is worthless at best and should be avoided. Not only are they loaded with toxic chemicals including mercury and aluminum, but many people come down with the flu shortly after receiving the shot. This is because it actually weakens the immune system, making the person more predisposed to the illness.
Lie.
Cough up your scientific methods in coming up with this bunk. Good grief.
This info is well documented and available to everyone. Get off you complacent asses and expand your pea brains. Stop demanding everything be lay in your lap.
It's starting to wane just when the news about it has reached hysterical pitch. That happened with the swine flu too. This contributes to the cry wolf effect.
I have not received a flu shot in almost 3 years or more I think and I have not caught the flu. I work out about 3-5 times a week, eat better than most people, and drink plenty of liquids. I don't get as much sleep as I should and I tend to drink and smoke (I have actually cut back alot since I started my journey of slowly quitting). I have not caught a cold up until a week ago which is now an ear infection on the eve of leaving my body soon because I barely get any pain anymore.
I see the "flu shot" as something of a lame attempt to save the people who treat their bodies horribly and don't eat right, get 0 sleep, don't wash up when needed, and don't keep their living spaces neat and organized.
I also see people who get the flu shot get sick more often then people who are healthy and take all the right measures and don't get the flu shot. So why is it fashionable for those who get the flu shot to call all of us "nut jobs" or "conspiracy theorists" or use "tin foil hat" jokes to weaken our feelings about flu shots and vaccines? If we clearly see a pattern here and it happens over and over again, it's just not coincidence, there is really something that is not quite right. You would think the flu shot benefits you but I see alot of cases where not getting it has little to no effect on someone's resulting health. Eating right, exercise, and personal and surround hygene maintenance seem to do the trick..
just my 2 cents
OK this is enough from the CDC still calling the flu shot a "vaccine", they can't be serious. There is already enough statistics on how over half the people that develop serioius flu have been "vaccinated" with the flu shot. Here at home everyone has had the shot, four other people, but having not had the "flu vaccine shot" I did not get the flu. Ironic.
Flu = virus
Virus medication delivered via the bloodstream by some method of injection = vaccine
I guess you can't be right anymore than they can be serious. :)
And I am sure you're withholding your statistics from the world because you want others to prove it for you right? :)
Ironic? lol wrong term mate.
Getting the flu isn't guaranteed if you don't have the vaccine. It's not guaranteed when you do either. There are many reasons people DON'T get the flu besides the vaccine. You need to take some lessons in logic before posting ignorant crap.