An analysis published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found the 2022-2023 influenza vaccine was only 48% effective in reducing flu risk.
The vaccine was only 40% effective at preventing hospitalization, the analysis noted.
Researchers examined respiratory illness-associated emergency department and urgent care visits as well as hospitalizations to gather the information.
The researchers then compared the vaccination status of patients testing positive for the flu with those testing negative.
According to the analysis, the flu vaccine was 53% effective for those aged 6 months to 4 years.
Among those aged 9-17 years old, the vaccine was 38% effective at preventing illness.
Another study said that “it is time to accept that the presence” of coronavirus is “the new normal” and should be placed alongside other “common” viruses.
“[COVID] will likely circulate globally for the foreseeable future, taking its place alongside other common respiratory viruses such as influenza,” the authors wrote.
