HHS HealthBeat (February 28, 2008)

Making a match

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Flu season is here in all of its achy, feverish glory. But so is the flu vaccine, if you haven’t gotten it yet. So there’s still time for vaccination to do you some good.

But should you get vaccinated, even though this season’s vaccine isn’t a perfect match for all of this season’s flu strains? At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Anne Schuchat, the director of the National Immunization Program, says yes.

``We think that the vaccine offers protection. It will work differently in different people. But it’s still the best way to protect yourself and those around you.’’ (8 seconds)

Studies show a vaccine can protect enough to make illness milder and prevent flu-related complications even when there’s a less-than-ideal match between viruses in the vaccine and circulating viruses.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: February, 27 2008