This year's flu vaccine will probably provide more protection than last year's — here's why

pulse

September 26, 2018 3:15 PM

Flu season is approaching in the US, and with it, a redesigned flu vaccine is here. After last year's shot performed so poorly, proving itself only 25% effective against some of the nastiest strains of the flu, infectious disease experts and drugmakers have reformulated the 2018-2019 vaccine.

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Even if a flu vaccine doesn't prevent you from getting the flu, it can make the illness less severe if you do get it.

Flu season is fast approaching in the US, and with it, a new flu vaccine is here.

After last year's shot performed so poorly, proving itself only 25% effective against some of the nastiest strains of the flu, infectious disease experts and drugmakers have reformulated the 2018-2019 vaccine. Although it's still early in the season, flu experts are hopeful about the new formula.

Down south in Australia, for example, it's been a fairly mild flu season, with flu activity circulating at "low" levels, according to the Australian Department of Health. That may not perfectly translate to an equally mild flu season up north, but what Webby's seen so far suggests that the shot is also combatting the flu better than it did last year.

Drugmakers have been working since February to develop the new vaccine for this season's flu.

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