Fears flu vaccine will protect just 10pc of people aged 80 and over
THE flu jab may protect as few as 10pc of people aged 80 and over – even though they are a vulnerable group particularly at risk from the virus.
The vaccine was also only successful in 17pc of pensioners in their 60s and 70s across several countries last winter, according to a major new study.
It’s the latest evidence about the waning protection offered by the seasonal vaccine against the flu strain A(H3N2), which many fear could potentially lead to an epidemic this winter.
It follows an NHS report in the UK saying the vaccine had virtually zero effect on the over65s last winter.
The new research, by a group of international infection control experts, calculated the vaccine’s effectiveness in 10 countries last winter.
They show many patients over 65, who had been given the flu jab, ended up being hospitalised with the virus. They were compared with patients who were diagnosed with flu and had not got the vaccine.
The doctors, who form the I-Move+ hospital working group, warned close monitoring of the ability of the vaccine to prevent flu is essential this winter, the journal ‘Eurosurveillance’ reported.
It performed better in older patients with lung disease than those with heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
The jab also appeared to be more successful in patients who also had the flu vaccine the previous winter, suggesting there was “residual” protection.
This may provide comfort that people who get the flu vaccine every year are lowering their risk.
The good news from the study is that they found the vaccine was more powerful last year in protecting against swine flu and the B strain.
Both of these are circulating in Ireland this winter.
The latest flu report shows six patients were hospitalised in Ireland last week, suffering complications of flu. One of the patients had the A(H3N2) strain, three were infected with swine flu and the rest had an unidentified A strain.
It is still too early to say what strain of flu will dominate this winter and whether a national outbreak will materialise.
Dr Anna Clarke, HSE consultant in public health medicine, said: “This year’s flu season is just beginning. Flu vaccine prevents hospitalisations and deaths. The best protection against flu is the flu vaccine.
“All people in risk groups should get the vaccine if they have not gotten it already. As the vaccine takes two weeks to work, the HSE is urging people to get the vaccine now.”
No deaths from flu have been reported so far this season.
The trolley crisis continues to cast a threat over the ability of hospitals to cope with a potential major flu outbreak this winter. There were 329 patients on trolleys across the country yesterday, including 51 in University Hospital, Galway.
A panel of medical experts will meet next week in the US to discuss why vaccines against several illnesses are offering diminishing protection. Some doctors suggest older people get a flu jab in September and another dose in January.