Members of the Walla system get vaccinated (photo: Ido Shaham, editing: Hadas Naor)
Here's some good news for all those who are upset: Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky, shared in the weekly briefing that she has "good news" about this year's annual flu vaccine, calling it a "life saver."
Valensky said the vaccine appears to be effective against the strain of flu that circulates around the world.
"Right now, the good news is that it looks like it's a very good fit," she told reporters.
This happens when cases of the corona virus and the flu are on the rise.
Valensky called the trend "alarming" during the winter season, when many gather inside enclosed spaces with little ventilation.
She also noted that despite the good news, the number of people vaccinated is low compared to previous years.
The best way to protect against infection and serious illness from the flu is to get the annual flu shot, says the CDC.
The vaccine is recommended for anyone over the age of 6 months.
"I want to emphasize that the flu vaccine can save lives and that there is still time to get vaccinated to be protected against this season's flu," Valensky said.
You can still protect yourself.
Flu vaccine (Photo: ShutterStock)
According to statistics, every year 20-30 percent of children and 5-10 percent of adults in the general population get the flu.
The vaccines provide good protection against the flu for one winter, and every fall a vaccine is produced with a new composition that contains the three strains of flu expected to be common in the coming year according to the decision of the World Health Organization.
It's not every year that Lazani scores, but this year, it seems, the mix is right against them.
According to the organization, almost every sample tested by public health laboratories across the country so far this year was from the influenza A virus. Only 0.1% were influenza B. All viruses tested so far this season were also sensitive to the four antiviral treatments currently recommended for influenza patients.
However, the real estimates of how effective the vaccines are at warding off flu cases and serious illness will have to wait until the spring, when results from the CDC's ongoing vaccine effectiveness studies begin to be published.
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