healthmedicinet

Searches for the flu were high in 2015, driven by the fact that the flu vaccine for the 2014/2015 flu season was not as effective as previous years.

“Scientists actually have to predict which strains will be circulating that year several months in advance because that’s how long it takes to create the flu vaccine,” Smith explained. “Some of that is based on the strains of the flu virus we see circulating in the southern hemisphere because the flu seasons are opposite. Therefore, sometimes if we’re off a bit with our predictions, then we’re going to be off a bit with the effectiveness of the flu vaccine.”

The 2014/2015 flu vaccine was estimated to be only about 18 percent effective — much lower than average. In addition to all the sickness that occurred because of that, experts worry that such years increase the likelihood that people will opt not to get the flu vaccine in the future.

“On average, about 40 to 50 percent of people get the flu vaccine even though it’s recommended for everyone 6 months and older,” Smith said. “So many are likely thinking why bother if it’s only 18 percent effective, but honestly 18 percent is still pretty huge compared to getting the flu and feeling like you can’t get out of bed, or worse, ending up in the hospital.”

In a good year, the vaccine is 70 to 90 percent effective, he said, and the 2015/2016 vaccine so far appears to be much more effective than last year’s.