The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Division of Immunization Services is encouraging individuals to get their flu shot as part of National Influenza Vaccination Week, Dec. 7-13. According to recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Services (CDC), the Influenza A H3N2 flu virus most common during the flu season appears to have transformed, making the shot less effective than usual. The Influenza A H3N2 strain tends to cause more deaths and hospitalizations, especially in the elderly. “We are still strongly recommending that residents get a flu vaccination this year even though the vaccine’s ability to protect against Influenza A H3N2 viruses may be reduced,” said Dr. Letitia Tierney, state health officer and commissioner for the Bureau for Public Health. “We know that vaccination has been found to provide some protection against drifted viruses in past seasons in addition to offering protection against other flu viruses later in the season.”
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:46:10 +0000
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