By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Even with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, a Bloomington Doctor encourages everyone to get the flu shot this year.
Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, OSF General Surgeon Dr. Wieland, the flu shot vaccine is based on last year’s flu patterns.
“The strains that it is active against were chosen from last year’s patterns of infection. The modern flu vaccine is four vaccines in one. And it’s a prediction of which strains and there are multiple strains of flu that are active during a routine flu season. Which strains are going to be the most active, and that’s why in its best years, it has about a 60-65% effectiveness. In our bad years, it can be anywhere from 0-20%. But it’s still a good idea.
Wieland added that even if the flu shot vaccine misses the exact strand of the flu a person contracts, it will still limit flu symptoms.
“Even if it misses the exact strain that I contract, my symptoms will most likely be much less, dramatic (and) sever because of that cross-reactivity or that cross antibody reaction.”
LISTEN: Dr. Wieland, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center General Surgeon speaks with WJBC’s Scott Miller about COVID-19, getting a flu shot and other topics:
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting vaccinated between September and October. However, as long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination could continue into January or later.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
