By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
Azuree Albanese is happy her 2.5-year-old daughter Laney got the flu shot this year, even though it may not protect her completely. The CDC indicates this flu season could be severe. About half of the H3N2 viruses analyzed are drift variants — viruses which are different from the season’s vaccine virus. That means the vaccine’s ability to protect against those viruses may be reduced, says the agency.
“There’s different families or species so to speak of the flu virus like H3N2 or H1N1, now in each of species you can have family members,” said Dr. Adam Kaplan.
Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Dr. Kaplan says all those family members — or virus strains — are alike but not identical.
“When you choose the virus, that’s going to be in the vaccine. We are looking at these family members but throughout the year these family members can change a little bit and you have siblings. You will still recognize and match up but they are not necessarily going to be exact fits. That’s the quote drift that CDC is talking about,” Dr. Kaplan said.
“I think it’s very scary but I still think it’s important to vaccinate even if it helps just a little bit,” Albanese said.
The CDC didn’t return NJTV News‘ multiple requests for an interview, but according to a release on the agency’s website, the CDC strongly recommends vaccination, stating, “Vaccination has been found to provide some protection against drifted virus in past seasons.” The CDC says influenza viruses are constantly changing and the drifted H3N2 viruses were first detected after the World Health Organization’s recommendations for this season’s vaccine had been made.
“These viruses replicate in the body to make it infectious very quickly. DNA and RNA, which is what we’re made up of, is made up of four letters, so go to your keyboard type in a word that’s made up of four letters and do it in a minute, type it four times. How many times are you gonna make a mistake? Probably not many, but if you do it fast and only have a minute to do it 1,000 times, you’re gonna make a mistake in that sequence, in that order. That’s what’s happening to the virus throughout the year,” said Dr. Kaplan.
The sequence of the DNA changes slightly, creating the drifted virus.
Because Dr. Kaplan expects more patients to get the flu this season, as soon as someone walks in with flu-like symptoms like high fever, muscle aches or sore throat, as long as the symptoms began within 48 hours, his medical team will do a rapid flu test. If it’s positive, Dr. Kaplan will prescribe an anti-viral medication.
“The antivirals up to this point have not shown to be any less effective against this drifted strain,” he said.
The Albanese family hopes their kids remain flu-free this year, especially since dad Ed already got the bug.
“I’m already on edge. To be honest, I think if I could take a triple flu shot I would take it right now,” he said.
Dr. Kaplan insists all it takes is one shot. Flu activity typically peaks December through February and the season can last until May.