CIC says 2014-20154 flu vaccine not as effective as hoped
YOUNGSTOWN
The flu is slamming Ohio and the Mahoning Valley a month earlier than usual this year, at least partially because this year’s flu shot is not as effective as had been hoped.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, there had been 202 flu-associated hospitalizations through Nov. 29 compared with 89 for the same period in 2013.
Also, ODH reported one confirmed influenza-associated pediatric death, a teenager from southern Ohio.
The 2014-15 flu season started in October and will continue into the spring.
While influenza-related pediatric deaths must be reported to ODH, adult deaths are not required to be reported so total influenza- associated death statistics aren’t available, officials said.
Reports vary on the severity and frequency of influenzalike illness in the Mahoning Valley.
The flu hit two or three weeks earlier than in 2013, when it did not ramp up until early January, said Melinda Morrow, a physician assistant at Ready Care, a walk-in urgent-care facility in the Medical Pavilion next to Mercy Health’s St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital.
Likewise, ValleyCare of Ohio’s Northside Medical Center’s emergency room and ValleyCare’s Urgent Care in Austintown have seen an increase in positive influenza type A, particularly over the last two weeks, said Trish Hrina. ValleyCare vice president of marketing and public relations.
“An ER doctor at Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren over two shifts had 10 patients test positive for influenza. Ten percent of the cases in the ER at Northside Medical Center are flu- related,” Hrina said.
“We are seeing large numbers of upper respiratory infections both viral and bacterial, such as bronchitis and colds and sinus infections,” she said.
Morrow attributes at least part of the uptick in influenza in early December to this year’s flu vaccine, which she said “has very poor coverage.”
“Seventy-five percent of the people we are seeing who test positive for influenza A have had the vaccine,” said Morrow of Poland.
One day last week, she said 20 of their 30 patients had influenza. Also, Morrow said two emergency room nurses she treated last week reported seeing a significant increase in influenza patients at their place of work over the past few days.
Despite the fact, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that the shot is less effective than expected, Morrow still recommends that people get the vaccine.
She said people who do not get the flu shot are generally sicker longer and experience more complications, such as pneumonia.
Salem Regional Medical Center reports a different story about influenza activity.
According to Lyn Pethtel, SRMC’s director of quality assurance and infection control, as of last week the hospital had treated fewer than five cases of influenza in the emergency department and had two admissions to the hospital for influenza or complications from this illness during the past month.
Also, the Youngstown City Schools nurse reported some students out with the flu, but not as many as normal for this time of the flu season.
“Influenza vaccination is the safest and most effective way to fight the flu, so I encourage all Ohioans who have not already done so to get vaccinated except infants younger than six months,” said Dr. Mary DiOrio, ODH medical director.
“With flu activity increasing and family and friends gathering for the holidays, now is a great time to get vaccinated to protect yourself and your loved ones,” Dr. DiOrio said.
Symptoms of influenza can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year. Flu vaccination is available at most health care providers’ offices, local health departments and retail pharmacies.
The 2014-15 flu season may be severe, according to information released by CDC this week. Influenza A (H3N2) is the predominant virus strain this year, and hospitalizations and deaths are higher when it is dominant.
And though the influenza vaccine that was prepared for this year’s flu season is poorly matched to half of H3N2 viruses circulating, reducing its effectiveness, it is still important to get vaccinated, said Dr. DiOrio.
“The flu vaccine has been found to provide some protection against drifted viruses, those that have evolved since the vaccine was developed, and it also offers protection against circulating influenza strains for which the vaccine remains well-matched, such as Influenza A [H1N1] and B viruses,” she said.
The CDC recommends that clinicians administer one of two prescription antiviral drugs as a second line of defense as soon as possible to patients with confirmed or suspected influenza who are hospitalized, have severe illness, or may be at higher risk for flu complications.
These antiviral drugs are oseltamivir (Tamiflu Æ) and zanamivir (Relenza Æ).
Patients who could benefit from them include children younger than 2; adults 65 and older; people with chronic medical conditions including asthma, heart disease, or weakened immune systems; pregnant women; American Indians/Alaska Natives; and people who are morbidly obese.
“These antiviral medications can reduce the severity of the flu and prevent serious flu complications. They work best when started within two days of getting sick,” said Dr. DiOrio.