Influenza Vaccine: About Effectiveness

HomeHealth AwarenessInfluenza Vaccine: About Effectiveness

Monday, February 2, 2015 3:17 PM

As many �鶹ӳ��ns have already heard through the media, a new report on the effectiveness of influenza vaccine this season was released on January 29. This report – which is specific to Canada – is showing that this season’s influenza vaccine is offering little protection against one of three influenza strains circulating in �鶹ӳ��: the Influenza A strain, H3N2.

The influenza vaccine is still effective at preventing the other two strains of influenza circulating in �鶹ӳ��: Influenza A H1N1 and Influenza B.

Despite the vaccine only being a partial match, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of vaccine, always, to prevent needless illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths.

If you haven’t yet been immunized this season, I continue to encourage you to be immunized, to be protected from H1N1 and Influenza B.

I also encourage you to use this opportunity to talk with your family, friends and neighbours about the key fact behind the report’s headline: this season’s vaccine does still provide protection against two of the three circulating strains.

While unfortunate that the vaccine is only a partial match, it would be even more unfortunate if this one season’s partial match caused �鶹ӳ��ns to question the overall importance and effectiveness of vaccine.

Simply put: the influenza vaccine is usually more effective. Based on years of history, I am comfortable saying that I do expect to see a higher level of protection next season. That is, so long as we all continue doing what is best for our health and the health of our community: get immunized.

To those of you who have been immunized this season, thank you. To those of you who haven't yet been: it's not too late. The influenza vaccine is still available (visit for clinics).

We're here to help you make healthy decisions. Learn more about all immunizations at immunizealberta.ca, and more about influenza at .

Tagged as Latest, Disease Prevention,

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