By , Robert King
Published December 20, 2015
Federal health officials are scrambling to spread the word that this season's flu shot will be much more effective than last year's.
Last season's shot was only 18 percent effective against the most prevalent strain of influenza. Health experts say that the shot should be effective for the upcoming season and that everybody should get protection.
"This year, all signs point to there being a very good match between all the vaccine components and the virus strains we expect to circulate," said Andrew Pekosz, associate professor at Johns Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health. But Pekosz did say that there are no guarantees the shot will be totally effective.
"Laboratory data so far indicates that most circulating viruses are like the viruses used for developing the 15-2016 vaccines," added Dan Jernigan, influenza division director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last season had the most hospitalizations of seniors age 65 years and older in the U.S. since record-keeping began in 2005, according to the CDC. Last season, an estimated 313 seniors per 100,000 were hospitalized due to the flu.
Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/feds-battle-doubts-on-flu-shot