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Home Health Flu Report In California: Flu Vaccine Less Than Half Effective

Flu Report In California: Flu Vaccine Less Than Half Effective

Over the week ending Feb. 22, 64 people died from the flu in California, and thousands more have endured the aches and coughs of the influenza.

In the report, the U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network determined the vaccine’s efficacy in 4,112 children and adults who had flu-like illnesses between Oct. 23, 2019, and Jan. 25. From that data, researchers determined the vaccine was 37 percent effective in preventing Influenza A and 50 percent effective for Influenza B.

A total of 4,940 flu cases have been reported in California, according to CDC data. Influenza B started out as the dominant strain in California, and it hit young people particularly hard — 12 children have died from the flu in California this flu season. Now, however, Influenza A is the dominant strain in with 2,891 confirmed cases, and that is a concern because it is the strain more deadly for elderly patients who are more likely to die from the flu. A reported 2,049 people have tested positive for Influenza B.

Flu activity remains high in New York City, Puerto Rico and 43 states. In California, reported flu activity is currently high.

The CDC has recorded at least 32 million flu illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 18,000 deaths from flu — 125 of which were children, according to data ending the week of Feb. 22.

Last week, the CDC reported at least 29 million illnesses, 280,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths.

Nationally, the percentage of virus specimens testing positive for influenza decreased from 29.7 percent for the week ending Feb. 15 to 26.4 percent for the latest week.

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