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Should you get a flu shot if it’s not a perfect match for this year’s strains? Experts say yes

Should you get a flu shot if it’s not a perfect match for this year’s strains? Experts say yes

Mutations to some H3N2 strains might be mismatched to the current flu vaccine, but doctors explain why it’s still a good idea to get the shot.

Canada's flu season is being dominated by H3N2, a subtype of influenza A.

It's not a new threat by any means. H3N2 is a common subtype that contributes to seasonal flu outbreaks around the world, and it's usually included in annual flu shots. But it's also a bit notorious for being linked to more serious flu seasons.

This year, as the Southern Hemisphere's flu season was winding down, H3N2 gained an assortment of new mutations just in time to burst onto the scene in the Northern Hemisphere — which meant the version showing up in Canada, the U.S., the U.K. And elsewhere is now quite distinct from the H3N2 components already picked for the annual flu shot.

The good news? The latest form of H3N2 that's circulating in Canada isn't linked to more severe illness than normal. The World Health Organization (WHO) sums it up this way: "Current epidemiological data do not indicate an increase in disease severity, although this subclade marks a notable evolution in influenza A(H3N2) viruses."

Evidence also suggests that while the flu shot isn't ideally matched to this strain to help people avoid infections, it's still offering protection against serious illness — and provides cross-protection against several types of influenza, since there's more than just H3N2 circulating.

"Early estimates suggest that the influenza vaccine continues to provide protection against hospital attendance in both children and adults, even though its effectiveness against clinical disease during the current season remains uncertain," the WHO recently said.

We're expecting the latest federal numbers on influenza rates across the country this afternoon from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

It comes as an early start to Canada's flu season has seen health-care facilities across the country face surging admissions.

So far, the highest number of flu detections country-wide have been among children and youth under the age of 19 — putting strain on some children's hospitals. But health-care experts also warn the worst may be yet to come as influenza spreads through all age groups, with more and more outbreaks recently reported in long-term care homes and other facilities housing high-risk seniors.

We'll be following the reaction to today's stats on this page.

We also want to hear from you. Send any questions you might have about this year's flu season to ask@cbc.ca and we'll do our best to answer them.

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