As mentioned in the video, the current vaccine is not a great fit to the H3N2 strain that is predominate, but it will lessen the risk of a severe infection, complications, and hospitalization.
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
The current vaccine isn't as good a match. Everyone should understand why. The was the vaccine is prepared, the scientists look at the strain(s) circulating in the southern hemisphere the months of the winter there before July. Then the virus must be grown on eggs and vaccine produced from that. That gives the virus open range to mutate before the outbreak huts the northern hemisphere. It may prevent hospitalizations and death but might not be a close enough match to prevent infection.
With mRNA and DNA technology, a vaccine can be prepared de novo, in days to weeks that would match the very virus in the community. That technology was first developed in the 1990s. Those of us in disaster preparation kept hoping it would be available to use to prevent pandemics. That is how the COVID vaccine was developed and saved millions of lives. Unfortunately, the anti-science anti-vaxxers have successfully turned back the hands of progress and defunded support of further research. This we are still using technology that dates back many decades rather than take advantage of the latest, better technology!
@samueltyler2 Exactly correct! Another factor in the vaccine preparation that contributed was the cut in funding to our virus surveillance programs. These programs are critical in the early detection and identification of dominant strains of emerging viruses and guide vaccine development.
Interference with the staging meetings to plan our annual influenza vaccines also caused critical delays.
So many poor decisions by Trump’s appointee (Robert F. Kennedy, Jr) and the other anti-vaxxers he appointed (while removing the competent experts) severely crippled many aspects of our public health system.
In spite of this, I am urging all to get the flu shot. It does have some benefit in decreasing hospitalizations, complications, and will provide some degree of protection. Hand washing, avoiding crowds, and social distancing will remain important as well.
@whowasthatmaskedman I am not sure whether to cry or get angry at what you said. During the COVID pandemic, i was already retired and not allowed to even help out in the hospital, but I was in close conversation with my former colleagues who told me about those who they intubated, knowing that they had better than a 50% chance they would die, and would say they wished they had taken the vaccine.
@samueltyler2 I am aware of those stories. Fortunately in my country the anti vax movement never really took hold, apart from a few rabid individuals. Of course we had some small tragedies early on with a few nursing homes not policing mask rules and multiple deaths. But overall, between mask mandates, lockdowns and vaccination programs, our percapita fatality rate was 10% of Americas..😷
@whowasthatmaskedman I understand those who favor libertarian views, but i do not understand how their views so blind them to not believe science and thus endanger their lives and those of others.
@samueltyler2 I was in a very similar situation, having retired in late Fall 2019 just as COVID was arriving at our shores. It saddens me that people viewed their “personal freedom” to ignore public health measures such as masking, social distancing, and when they became available getting vaccinated as more important than not only their own health & safety but also that of their own family, friends, and neighbors. Needless deaths.
