Flu Shots Are Not Completely Effective at Stopping the Flu

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Oct 26, 2011 9:40PM

Scientists say the seasonal flu shot is only 59 percent effective at stopping the flu. Scientists say the technology used to make flu vaccines hasn’t changed much since the 1940s, but in the next five years, they may have a universal flu shot ready for circulation. The Sun-Times writes:

Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, puts it this way: “There isn’t any doubt that influenza vaccine is a pretty good vaccine, but it’s not excellent, like polio or measles. Even in the best of times, it’s not capable of completely eliminating infections.”

Scientists are working on a “universal flu shot” that would last for years. Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, has said such a vaccine could be developed within the next five years.

Now, this doesn't mean it's not worth getting a flu shot. Something is better than nothing. It just means that if there were a serious Contagion-like outbreak, we'd be pretty much screwed.

Somewhere Lewis Black is patting himself on the back for being somewhat accurate in his bit about flu shots and Nyquil years ago. "You never get the flu because you always got a cold." Watch it below.