The American Hospital Association (AHA) recently noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this flu season's vaccine has been 48 percent effective at the prevention of flu-related outpatient visits in the category of acute respiratory illness.
The vaccination has been 43 percent effective at the prevention of influenza A virus (H3N2), and 73 percent effective against influenza B virus.
The flu-related hospitalizations have also been lower this year, than they were in 2014-15, pointing to a more accurate match of the actual virus to the vaccine. In fact, the 6,800 flu-associated hospitalizations, as reported through Feb. 4 by the CDC, were 60 percent made up of individuals 65 years of age and older.
The CDC cautions that patients who are at high risk for contracting the flu should seek out flu anti-viral medications.
Though the flu is expected to be a threat for the next few weeks, the vaccinations will continue as well.
