2017-2018 Review: What Can We Learn from Flu Season
The 2017-2018 flu season has officially been named the worst in a decade, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicting that over 30 million Americans will have contracted the flu by the end of the season, with some 50,000 deaths expected. The CDC warns that adults who are 65 and older should take extra precaution when flu season hits to ensure the best level of senior health and wellness.
Because our immune systems weaken as we age, seniors are at a greater risk of developing complications from the flu. In fact, it is estimated that 71 to 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths affect people age 65 and older. It’s important to take a look at data and prevention to ensure that we’re prepared for flu seasons of the future and to protect the aging population from the risk of contracting and spreading the flu.
The Flu Shot Is Not Optional for Seniors
Despite mounds of misinformation, the flu shot is incredible at best and a good safeguard at worst. So far this year, scientists believe that that shot was about 36 percent effective overall, but in good years it can be as effective as 70 percent. The fact of the matter, though, is that we simply won’t know how effective the flu shot is until long after we get it (in October, ideally), so we have to look at the flu shot more as a potential defender, not a definite shield.
But there are extra benefits for seniors who get the flu shot. For about 10 years now, the CDC has recommended two flu vaccines designed specifically for people over the age of 65, and it recommended a new one for the 2016-2017 season. The newer version for seniors, the adjuvanted flu vaccine called Flaud, was 63 percent more effective in seniors than regular-dose flu shots. The takeaway here is that there are often new recommendations specifically for the older population, so we have to pay attention to new options every single season.
Things Change Fast During Flu Season
One of the most important things we learned from this flu season is that information changes rapidly when it comes to the flu. During the 2017-2018 flu season, for example, the CDC issued a notice recommending only the use of the flu shot and warning the general public to avoid the nasal spray flu vaccine (LAIV). That’s because it was found ineffective at targeting the specific strain of the flu that plagued the U.S. in seasons past.
But, to keep us on our toes, the CDC put the vaccine back on the list of recommended vaccinations in February, proving that treatment and prevention recommendations can change in the blink of an eye during flu season. The key here is that we must not think that because we got vaccinated in the fall, we’re totally protected throughout the year. Monitoring recommendations from the CDC and your healthcare provider will help ensure that your prevention plan is up to date.
The Vaccine Doesn’t Fight Every Strain
You’re probably aware that the flu shot varies in effectiveness from year to year, but this fact hit home especially hard after last year’s season. In 2017-2018, the dominant flu strain was H3N2, which tends to be more severe in general and is also harder to protect against with the vaccine. Designing the season’s flu shot is something like predicting the weather — scientists must observe the strain and its effects each year to adapt it for the next season. We learned his year that developing vaccines that are more efficacious against H3N2 should be the priority when developing next year’s formula.
Conclusion: It’s Never Too Late to Get the Vaccine
As you can tell, the best possible way to prevent contracting the flu is to get the vaccine. Although it’s recommended that you get your flu shot in October every year, especially if you’re an older adult, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated at any point throughout flu season (from October to May), because risks are high even when flu season begins to wind down. Make sure to include flu prevention in your senior care strategy every year to prevent serious flu-related complications.