EAST BAY, CA — Officials with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in the East Bay are trying to clear up a major misconception that has circulated during this flu season: people should in fact go get their flu vaccine. While there are four strains of influenza circulating around, Sutter Health's Medical Director of Infection Control Dr. Jeffrey Silvers says that being vaccinated is still the best option.
"There's a lot of confusing information being provided from multiple news sources that the flu shot has only been 10 percent effective," Silvers said in a statement. "But the data strongly suggests that vaccinated high risk patients are much less likely to be hospitalized," he added.
The most predominant strain of influenza is H3N2, which has been getting a lot of attention because it is the most predominant strain. It has accounted for about 70 percent of patients, according to Alta Bates Summit
officials.
"It's not too late to get the flu shot and everyone six months or older can still get one," Silver said. Additionally, he said it's important to remember that it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to take effect.