CDC warns flu vaccine may not be as effective in preventing hospitalization as previous seasons

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday warned that the current flu vaccine might not be as effective at preventing hospitalizations as previous seasons, according to early reports from South America. 

The flu season in South America usually occurs earlier in the year, and a CDC report found that the vaccine was only 34.5% effective in preventing hospitalizations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, from March through July, while it was 52% effective during the same period last year. 

Although the effectiveness is lower, the agency said vaccines still “significantly lowered the risk for hospitalization," according to The Hill.

“Although Southern Hemisphere influenza VE is not necessarily predictive of Northern Hemisphere VE, it can help the Northern Hemisphere plan contingencies for vaccination demand and use,” the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report said. “These data suggest that influenza vaccine demand was still low post–COVID-19 but that vaccination prevented approximately one third of influenza-associated hospitalizations among groups at high risk for influenza-associated complications.”

Flu vaccine coverage has been declining recently, with just 47.2% of Americans older than 6 months getting the shot last year. However, Americans can now administer the flu vaccines alone at home, after the Food and Drug Administration approved a nasal spray as the first self-administered flu vaccine last month.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.