Hyderabad: The flu vaccine must not be used this season as it is not found to be effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, US, as it has found the results to be very poor.
Flu vaccines are used for protection against influenza, pneumonia and respiratory illnesses and are given on a yearly basis to children and elderly citizens. The flu vaccine is not compulsory.
Dr Subbakar K, senior pulmonolgist, said, “The flu vaccine is given so that when the virus strikes, the immune system of the person is not compromised. Despite being vaccinated, it is important that people must seek treatment in cold, cough and fever last for more than two days.”
The CDC’s advisory committee on immunisation practices has stated that the vaccine has shown poor efficacy in flu prevention in 2015-16 and must not be used.
Dr Anand Joshi, senior internal medicine specialist, said, “Parents of young children will have to skip the flu vaccine altogether as it is not going to be effective. The vaccine strains are not helping building immunity. We have to wait and see if there are new strains being developed for the next season.”
