CDC: This year's flu vaccine not as effective against Influenza B

This year's flu vaccine may not be very effective against the bug, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

News 12 Staff

Jan 14, 2020, 10:19 PM

Updated 1,725 days ago

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This year's flu vaccine may not be very effective against the bug, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
It says this year's vaccine isn't a good match for the main strain of the virus that is going around, which is known as Influenza B. Officials say it's making for an especially bad flu season.
Dr. John Zaso, of East Meadow, says the vaccine was about a 60% match at the beginning of the season, but now there may be a mutation in the virus from weather or travel patterns.
He says the vaccine can still offer some protection, and that it's better than not getting it at all.
According to the CDC, 32 children in the U.S. have died from the flu so far this year, which is the highest number of pediatric flu deaths reported at this point in the season since the agency started tracking child flu deaths.