This Year’s Flu Vaccine is 36% Effective. That’s good news.
On Wednesday, the CDC announced that this year’s Flu vaccine is 36% effective. I’m thrilled. It has also reported that in children specifically, effectiveness may be as high as 51% and that among those that have suffered the worst illness and even have died, 85% were not vaccinated. This is really good news. It means that this year’s protection is even better than we expected and that in the face of the worst Flu season in years, THE FLU VACCINE IS WORKING.
You can still protect yourself and your family from the Flu this late in the season
There are other weapons of course. Flu is spread by droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs so wearing a mask if you are infected is important. Even when your family is well, you should encourage frequent hand washing — not just after using the bathroom.
Here are my top tips:
Wipe down door knobs and handles, even low ones if you have little kids.
Wipe surfaces like desks, counters, tables, and sinks.
Wipe down toys, phones, remotes, and devices.
Don’t share utensils, cups or towels.
Wash sheets and towels regularly.
Limit exposure to sick family and friends.
Stay home when you are sick and keep your kids home if they have active cough and for 24 hours after any fever.
And of course, VACCINATE.
If you think it is better not to get the vaccine, please think again!
Often times parents bring their child in for visits undecided about giving the flu shot. In 15 years of pediatrics, I can’t remember ever saying no. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends vaccinating everyone six months and older. For kids less than nine who have never received the flu shot we recommend two doses at least four weeks apart. It is indicated in most children who have an egg allergy and it is especially indicated for children less than 5 years old, children with a chronic disease such as asthma, diabetes or sickle cell and for children with any type of immunocompromise.
The CDC also recommends Flu vaccines for all caregivers and household contacts of children, especially when the child is less than six months old, and for all pregnant and breastfeeding women. These recommendations hold true even when the flu shot is less effective than the one we have this year. It is always our best defense against this enemy. In my experience, those patients that do unfortunately get the flu after vaccination have a flu is less severe and shorter than for those patients that are unvaccinated.
One comparison I love to make is this: studies show that in motor vehicle accidents, seat belts are 40% effective in protecting against any injury. We would never send our kids off to school without a seatbelt, so why are we letting kids walk into a school where a life-threatening virus lives? This, while we have a tool that is 51% effective in protecting them?
Much of what you read about Flu is just not true
There are many flu myths. Let’s address a few:
The vaccine does not cause you to spread the flu.
It does not weaken your immune system (quite the contrary actually.)
Getting the real flu does not better protect you from other flus than the vaccine does. It only protects you from that one strain that you had.
The flu vaccine does not give you the flu.
Side effects of the vaccine include occasional soreness, redness and or swelling at the site of the infection. This is rare , resolves on its own and can be managed with ice or pain relievers. Even more rarely, there have been reported cases of low-grade fever, aches, and tiredness soon after vaccination. This typically lasts for 1-2 days and is mild. This is insignificant in comparison to the real flu which anyone who has been infected will gladly tell you.
Flu vaccine starts to protect you right away but full protection is not reached until 1-2 weeks after you receive the shot. This means that during those two weeks it is possible to get the flu, and more commonly any of the other respiratory viruses and stomach bugs that we are seeing right now.
It’s not too late to protect yourself
I am now hearing parents ask me if it is still worth it to vaccinate their kids this late in the game. The answer is YES. We start vaccinating in the fall and prefer kids to be vaccinated by October 30th but the AAP states that we can still vaccinate even as late as June 30th! Last year I had a few cases of Flu A as late as May.
To beat a dead horse, we need to vaccinate. Urge your family to do it and urge your friends to do it too. I would even go so far as to ask if your kids’ friends are vaccinated before agreeing to a playdate. Of course, I am not your average mom and I see a lot more illness that many of you do. I give it to my kids because I love them and I harass my needle-phobic husband until he gets it because I love him too. It cuts kids risk by half so make sure you do it too.
I have always been a big advocate for vaccination. I spend my days at work doing my best to protect healthy kids from illness and to comfort, reassure and help parents and their sick children. I spend much of my time on days off doing this for my friends and family too. I love that role. Nothing makes me happier than preventing illness — and I feel that vaccines are the greatest secret weapon I have.
Throughout her residency training and while serving as Chief Resident, Dr. Mary K. Thomas continued to work with indigent and immigrant children and their families. She was an integral member of the renowned St. Vincent’s Cystic Fibrosis Center and served on its Charity Board. Her work earned her the John Z. Jacoby Award for exemplary care of patients with CF. Dr. Thomas was an attending physician at The Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in Manhattan, caring for children with rare genetic disorders and complex chronic diseases before ultimately moving to New Jersey with her growing family.
Dr. Mary Thomas has been a busy pediatrician in New Jersey since 2008 and believes that well care and good preventative practices play the biggest role in preventing illness. She also believes in taking into account how psychosocial influences, as well as illness, play a role in the wellness of a child. Her clinical focuses include pediatric dermatology and rashes, caring for children and families with special needs including LGBTQ youth and children with disabilities. Dr. Thomas also serves as Medical Director of Armada Health, helping patients with challenging diagnoses get to the right specialists to treat their disease. Dr. Thomas currently resides in Montclair with her husband and three children. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and cheering on the sidelines of her children’s activities.