Flu vaccines: Why don’t they seem to WORK when they’re supposed to?!

Don’t let the title fool you… I’m a stickler for flu vaccines, and my family of five gets them every year because a) my son’s preschool won’t let him in without one and b) how horrible would I feel if it DID work and I didn’t take myself and the kids to get one?!

So why on God’s green earth does it seem like we are strongly encouraged by our physicians and community, year after year, to get the flu shot – only to find out that “it didn’t really help with this year’s flu virus.” (Gee, thanks… I’m so happy that I got a shot that would’ve been perfect for the 2001 flu virus.) In fact, the CDC reports that if you got this year’s vaccine, your chances of getting the flu are only 23% less (!) than those who skipped the vaccine. Yes, I would still drag my three kids to the pediatrician’s office (including my petrified, kicking, screaming and biting – no joke – four-year old who I have to hold down) for a 23% chance that they wouldn’t get the flu. So far so good, I should report. But tell me, why are our chances still so low?!

The answer: Apparently about 70% of the H3N2 flu viruses, which are the ones plaguing most of us, have changed, genetically speaking, so our vaccines aren’t protecting us from them like they used to.

The good news? Experts are working on a universal vaccine, which will go after parts of viruses that don’t change or mutate from year to year. While a little too late in this “moderately severe” flu season, we may see this vaccine in the next five or so years. AND once it’s available, we may only have to get a flu vaccine every 20 years!

(Side note: The fact that they “mutate” sounds like the latest sci-fi thriller to me. I’m actually wondering if one day we’ll discover that flu viruses are actually controlled and masterminded by smart, miniature aliens, trying to inflict a little torture on us earthlings.“The earthlings found a vaccine for the latest flu – time to mutate the virus so their vaccines don’t work! Muwhahaha!”)

Alas, we can only sit and wait for our commanders, ahem, I meant scientists, to come up with this universal vaccine. Oh, the wonders of modern medicine! Goodbye, aliens… we are on to you and your virus-mutating tricks! Find another planet to torture. : )

How has your experience been this flu season? Has the vaccine protected you and your kids? Let me know!

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