OT: Flu panic and vaccine, Confused? Options

[Qarl]

I've read and heard on the news that the flu vaccine that is available is ineffective against the strain of flu that is currently hitting us.... yet everyone is panicing to get the flu shot?

Am I missing something?

[SirAndy]

Am I missing something?

flu vaccine is a gamble every year.
they (the meds) TRY to predict (half a year in advance) which strain will hit the most and that's the type of vaccine they'll produce.
works out good mostly, but this year, they sorta missed.
70% of the vaccine is against a strain that never really made it,
only 30% is capable of attacking the current strain.

there's nothing magic about this strain, just that the vaccine at hand
doesn't really work all that good.

the flu virus mutates into new strains every year, that's why we get the flu over and over again, unlike other virus infections where your body has anti-bodies that protect you pretty much for the rest of your life.

that's also the reason why eating chicken soup actually works (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

the virus originates in chicken, but can't attack humans from there.
it can, however infect pigs. which is where the mutation happens.
the then slightly mutated virus is now capable of attacking humans.
when eating concentrated chicken soup, you actually get some of the chickens anti-bodies that help you fight the virus.

welcome to the beauty of nature. gotta have to admire this stuff, somehow ...
Andy