Flu vaccine barely worked in seniors - Health - Cold and flu | NBC News

Flu vaccine barely worked in seniors - Health - Cold and flu | NBC News:

“While the vaccine is not as effective as we would like, it by far remains the single most important thing people can do to protect themselves from flu,” Skinner said.

Skinner says it’s important for people over 65 to get treated for flu — there’s a pill called Tamiflu and an inhaled powder called Relenza that can help ease symptoms if taken right away.

CDC officials say they don’t fully understand why the flu vaccine works so much more poorly in people over 65 than it does in younger people. Some studies suggest people’s immune response wanes as they get older.

Virtually all health experts agree the influenza vaccines on the market now are far from perfect. “We need better vaccines. The Health and Human Services Department and others are committed to trying to work for a better vaccine,” Skinner says.

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