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Last updated 7:41 am CT February 09, 2010.
Effectiveness of Flu Shots
Debra Manning is the Infection Control Coordinator at Saint Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon. She says the flu vaccine is developed long before flu season and scientists don't always anticipate possible mutations.
She says, "They will develop the influenza vaccine according to what viruses are circulating in the previous year and what was circulating in other countries while we are having our summer."
Manning says one strain of Influenza type A mutated into the Brisbane strain, a strain not covered by this year's vaccine.
"The influenza virus frequently changes and that's what happened this year after the vaccine was already developed," says Manning.
She also says despite being vaccinated, there have been several hospital workers come down with the virus. Still Manning says people should not be discouraged, despite the fact the vaccine isn't 100% effective.
She says that it's the best defense we have in preventing influenza, which kills 36,000 people a year. Manning says the flu hit Southern Illinois hard starting at the beginning of January, but she thinks it may be starting to slow up a bit.
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