This Year’s Influenza Vaccine Is The Most Effective Yet, Reduces Risk By 59 Percent

The influenza activity of Influenza in the United States remains elevated, even with the slight decrease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With the numbers of victims increasing, CDC urges people to get vaccinated for the respiratory infection.

In a report from Albany Daily Star, CDC claims that the 2015 to 2016 Influenza vaccine is the most effective flu vaccine so far with 59 percent reduced risk of acquiring the illness. This is significantly higher than the reported 18 percent effectiveness in the previous flu season.

"This means that getting a flu vaccine this season reduced the risk of having to go to the doctor because of flu by nearly 60 percent," said Joseph Bresee, M.D., chief of CDC's Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in a statement.

Due to the varying flu seasons, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine is also changing every season. That is why CDC recommends people to get vaccinated every year after a new a vaccine is made available.

This year's flu season, according to CDC, started late. Patients diagnosed with influenza begun to elevate the week ending January 16 and has been constantly rising for five consecutive weeks.

Basing from the last 13 flu seasons, the average flu season lasts for 13 weeks, with a minimum of one week to a maximum of 20 weeks.

Children, pregnant women and older adults are very susceptible to influenza due to weak immune system. People with compromised immune system are also most likely to be in danger of having flu.

If by chance you are infected with influenza, CDC recommends early treatment with influenza antiviral drugs.

In the 2015-2016 Influenza Season Week 13 report, CDC reported that between March 27 and April 2, seven pediatric deaths are attributed to the flu or pneumonia.

At present, a total of 40 pediatric deaths linked to influenza and pneumonia were recorded by CDC since the flu season begun.