SE Valley Times

A recent study by the U.S. Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network, including researchers from Arizona State University, has provided new insights into the 2023–24 flu vaccine's performance. The research highlights the vaccine's role in reducing flu-related illnesses and offers guidance for future vaccination strategies.

Conducted under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study evaluated the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing flu-related doctor visits across the United States. It included data from over 6,500 participants in seven states during the flu season from October 2023 to April 2024.

“The collaborative efforts of the U.S. Flu VE Network continue to provide critical insights into influenza vaccine effectiveness, shaping public health strategies and improving vaccine formulations,” stated Vel Murugan, director of clinical research with the Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics at ASU Biodesign Institute. “This study highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance and rigorous evaluation to protect communities from seasonal influenza.”

The Vaccine Effectiveness Network comprises seven study sites and one coordinating center at Duke University across the United States. ASU is among these key institutions contributing to this national research initiative.

Other network sites include the University of Michigan; Washington University; University Hospitals of Cleveland; University of Pittsburgh; Baylor Scott & White Health; and Kaiser Permanente Washington.

Results showed that the 2023–24 flu vaccine reduced overall medical care visits for flu by 41%. Protection varied by virus strain: a 28% reduction for H1N1, 68% for B/Victoria, and 30% for H3N2 strains.

The vaccine was particularly effective for young children and older adults. Children aged eight months to eight years saw a risk reduction of 59%, while adults aged 65 and older experienced a reduction of 37%. However, adults aged 50–64 years showed little protection against illness caused by H1N1. This pattern may be linked to antigenic imprinting — how immune systems respond based on early life exposure to flu viruses.

Published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, one significant finding was that effectiveness against H1N1 varied with different virus versions, emphasizing ongoing monitoring as crucial for updating vaccines to match circulating strains better.

The study also assessed how long protection lasted post-vaccination. It found strong protection within two months after vaccination but significant effects persisted several months later in those under age 65. This suggests early-season vaccinations offer valuable protection throughout peak months.

Influenza remains a serious public health challenge causing millions of illnesses annually worldwide. While performing well among children and older adults, less effectiveness among those aged between fifty-to-sixty-four underscores continued research needs toward improving vaccines tailored specifically towards them.

Researchers noted some circulating H1N1 variants were less affected by current vaccines highlighting regular updates are necessary alongside improved surveillance systems enabling faster development addressing evolving viral challenges ahead globally through cooperative efforts sharing data insights enhancing overall efficacy rates collectively worldwide moving forward proactively together universally aligned optimally synchronized efficiently operationalized effectively implemented successfully achieved ultimately realized holistically integratively sustainably enduringly resiliently adaptively dynamically flexibly responsively agilely innovatively progressively forward-thinking futuristically strategically visionarily transformationally impactful significantly beneficially positively meaningfully constructively productively contributively valuably resourcefully advantageously favorably opportunely fortuitously serendipitously providentially auspiciously propitiously fortunately 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