Vaccine halves flu risk, says BCCDC

A new study has found that the flu shot provides substantial protection during this year’s early and ongoing flu season.

The British Columbia Center for Disease Control said preliminary results show the vaccine halved the risk of flu.

“We will update our analyzes in the new year, but these interim results show a substantial reduction in flu risk for vaccinated people who seek medical care.” said Dr. Danuta Skowronski, medical epidemiologist at the BC Center for Disease Control (BCCDC).

Skowronski says the early onset of flu season means they were able to get estimates of vaccine effectiveness earlier than normal.

“It’s nice to be able to announce some good news ahead of the holiday season,” she said.

The first results come from the Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network (SPSN), which is headquartered at the BCCDC and includes hundreds of primary care providers in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Skowronski says their annually revised flu vaccine performance estimates are sent to the World Health Organization to help it make decisions on future flu shots.

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The majority of influenza cases this season are due to the H3N2 subtype of influenza A, which the BCCDC says is often associated with more severe outbreaks and lower vaccine efficacy compared to other types of influenza A or B. .

Skowronski said this year’s vaccine provides good protection against the H3N2 subtype.

She notes that older people may have a harder time with H3N2 viruses.

“If they haven’t been vaccinated yet, now is the time to get vaccinated,” she said.

Seniors who want additional protection, particularly if they have high-risk conditions, may also consider having a conversation with their primary care provider about accessing treatment options such as oseltamivir, sold under the brand name Tamiflu, according to Skowronski.

Skowronski says we may be on the downward slope of the epidemic curve, but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t get vaccinated.

The virus will likely circulate for several more weeks, she said, and social gatherings over the holidays could amplify its spread. She also notes that a secondary wave due to influenza B sometimes arrives later in the season.

British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix is ​​also asking those who have not yet had their flu shot to do so now.

“Vaccines are available for anyone six months and older in British Columbia and these preliminary results show that vaccination remains our best defense against respiratory disease,” he said. in a version.

“By getting the flu shot, you can help protect our public health care system and the young children and seniors around you.”