Doctors: 2014 Flu Shot Less Effective Against New Flu Strain

DULUTH, Minn. - This year's new flu strain has Duluth hospitals preparing for the worst."This year we know the strains and the vaccine don't match what is circulating, so it's not as good," said St. Mary’s Hospital infectious disease physician, Dr. Rajesh Prabhu. Doctors are thanking the millions of people who went out and got a flu shot, but now they're saying this year’s vaccine may not work like it's supposed to. Doctors say it's hard to guess what the season will be like until it actually starts. With a southern Minnesota girl dying from flu-like symptoms last week and a Mankato hockey game cancelled because of players having the flu, it's shaping up to be a bad year. Reports from the Minnesota Department of Health show the first week of December there were 14 flu hospitalizations in southeast Minnesota. In the metro, 39 people were hospitalized because of the flu. As of early December, northern Minnesota hasn't seen any flu hospitalizations. In the past few days, doctors at Essentia St. Mary's in Duluth say they're seeing more and more flu cases coming through the door. This year's strain is called H3N2, and it turns out that specific strain doesn't match up with this year’s vaccine meaning the shot you got is less effective. "The difference this year is the vaccine that's been produced maybe is more 50 percent effective against all H3N2 strains that are circulating," said Dr. Prabhu. Doctors say the flu virus is constantly changing, so when they make the vaccine for the year it's hard to guess what strain will spread. Despite the prediction for the bad year, doctors say the likelihood you'll become deathly ill from this year’s flu strain is slim. "You may be miserable, but you should survive and get through it and prepare for the next virus infection because it's going to be a long winter," explained Dr. Prabhu. He says many people who die from the flu often have other medical problems contributing to death. If you did get the shot, not all hope is lost. Doctors say it will help the severity of your symptoms so your version of the flu might not be as bad as someone who didn't get the shot. To prevent it, treat it just like any other sickness. Keep your hands clean, cover your mouth, and if you think you have the flu, stay home from school and work. Doctors also say it's not too late to get that flu shot and protect yourself from other spreading diseases.