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This year's flu vaccine will contain the following 3-strains: A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus, A/Brisbane/10/2007(H3N2)-like virus, and B/Brisbane-like virus.
Schedule your flu shot appointments as soon as possible to guarantee your preferred time and date for your
Flu Shot Clinic this fall!
Facts About The Flu
Each year over 50 million Americans contract the flu virus. According to the
CDC, Influenza has surpassed AIDS as a lethal killer and contributes to an
average of 36,000 deaths in the U.S.
each year, 16,000 more than previously estimated.
Flu Vaccine Development
Each year, laboratories throughout the world collect flu viruses. These viruses
are then sent to one of four World Health Organization (WHO) reference
laboratories for detailed testing. One
of these laboratories is at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) in Atlanta.
The laboratories then test how well the antibodies made for the current vaccine
react to the circulating viruses and new flu viruses. A summary of this
information, along with information about the previous season's flu activity is
presented to an advisory committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and the World Health Organization.
The findings result in the selection of three viruses (two subtypes of
influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus) to go into flu vaccines for the
following fall/winter flu vaccination season. Usually one or two of the three
virus strains in the vaccine are changed each year.
Current
Situation
Visit the CDC for the most recent flu information:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm
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