As soon as school starts in the fall, it’s time to
start thinking about flu shots.
Each year experts from the FDA, the World Health
Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other
public health experts study influenza virus samples and global disease patterns
to identify virus strains likely to cause the most illness during the upcoming
flu season.
Based on that information and the recommendations
of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, the
strains selected for inclusion in the 2012-2013 flu vaccines are:
•
A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus
•
A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus
•
B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus.
While the H1N1 virus is the same as what was
included in the 2011-2012 influenza vaccines, this year’s influenza H3N2 and B
viruses differ from those in the 2011-2012 influenza vaccines. There is always
a possibility of a less than optimal match between the virus strains predicted
to circulate and the virus strains that end up causing the most illness.
However, even if the vaccine and the circulating strains are not an exact
match, the vaccine may reduce the severity of the illness or may help prevent
influenza-related complications.
For more information: flu.gov
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