2008 cold season only seems worse than it is
Jeanne Nelson The Poly Post (Cal Poly-Pomona)
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
(U-WIRE) The Poly Post - It appears this could be the worst cold season yet, but contrary to belief, it's not, according to health officials. Even though the flu shot only protects against 40 percent of viruses - compared to previous dosages that protected against 70 to 90 percent - the vaccine is still reliable.
"The flu and cold season arrived a bit late this year, but the flu activity is present in all 50 states and it's an average season," said Carla Jackson, a health educator at Student Health Services. "Here, we gave nearly 600 flu shots to students, staff and faculty this academic year."
Health officials advise people to protect themselves and note that it is not too late to be immunized. Although the vaccine is not a perfect match to all strains, it may help build immunity and enable a faster recovery when people do get ill, according to the Inside BayArea Web site.
"I got sick last week," said Guadalupe Sumano, a fourth-year marketing student. "Although I haven't taking any medication this time around, I haven't felt as sick, probably since I had my flu shot back in November."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu epidemic is well under way in the United States. The CDC said it had a clear indication that the viruses have mutated, making the current vaccine less effective.
It's impossible to predict which viruses will be dominant or how long they will be during the season. Because the virus is constantly changing, experts must pick which viruses to include in the vaccine months in advance in order for the vaccine to be produced and delivered on time.
"The flu and cold season arrived a bit late this year, but the flu activity is present in all 50 states and it's an average season," said Carla Jackson, a health educator at Student Health Services. "Here, we gave nearly 600 flu shots to students, staff and faculty this academic year."
Health officials advise people to protect themselves and note that it is not too late to be immunized. Although the vaccine is not a perfect match to all strains, it may help build immunity and enable a faster recovery when people do get ill, according to the Inside BayArea Web site.
"I got sick last week," said Guadalupe Sumano, a fourth-year marketing student. "Although I haven't taking any medication this time around, I haven't felt as sick, probably since I had my flu shot back in November."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu epidemic is well under way in the United States. The CDC said it had a clear indication that the viruses have mutated, making the current vaccine less effective.
It's impossible to predict which viruses will be dominant or how long they will be during the season. Because the virus is constantly changing, experts must pick which viruses to include in the vaccine months in advance in order for the vaccine to be produced and delivered on time.
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