Flu outbreak raises questions about effectiveness of vaccine

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The Centers for Disease Control have just come out moments ago with their latest update on the outbreak of -- Across this country emergency -- -- the Rocky Mountains to New England reportedly swamped with patients they are.

Overwhelmed in some areas in fact and this is prompted some new fears about shortages.

In the vaccines and also in Tamiflu in this country bring you our starting right now on Friday of America's Newsroom I am Martha MacCallum.

I am Bill Hemmer good morning you -- this vaccine works in the first place mobile find out and figure out in time -- the CDC says the flu activity.

Was elevated in the first week of January but may be decreasing in some areas.

And the number of deaths attributed to pneumonia and flu.

Above the threshold for an epidemic they -- Let's bring in doctor William Shatner he is a professor and chair of preventative -- and at Vanderbilt University Medical Center he also used to serve on the committee that helps determine.

What goes into the flu vaccine to make it as accurate as possible for what people are facing doctor good morning thank you so much for being with us this morning.

Good morning -- you might have heard bad bill spot as we came into the accident it raises a question about this vaccine.

It does it work was it -- that.

Oh sure it's going to work but remember.

Influenza vaccine is -- good vaccine but not a perfect vaccine and usually it prevents completely about sixty to 70% of infections.

Those that doesn't prevent completely it usually makes milder it prevents the complications of pneumonia hospitalization.

And of course death so that's all to the good.

It's not perfect yet but we don't want to wait for perfection and get that in the way of doing good now by using the vaccine.

He that you used to be on the committee as I said that that help to determine what the mix should be for the vaccine.

How how well do you think they did this year based on what we're seeing in terms of an epidemic -- some places.

-- actually we've hit it right on target now remember.

The vaccine once again can't prevent each and every infection.

There are some there's a strain out there that's not included in the vaccine we protect against three strains but there's an additional strain and beyond that there are also lots of the -- -- -- infections of other kinds out there which of course the vaccine can prevent yeah.

You know in terms of epidemic obviously people hear that word and it's a frightening word and there's an epidemic -- level in New York City.

In Boston that we've heard about a public health emergency.

What you people's reaction to the happy.

Well I think you ought to think about getting vaccinated if you haven't yet and you may have to shop around a little bit to find the vaccine.

Lots of good hand hygiene and if you do get sick please stay home don't spread it to your friends and relatives -- Get advice doctor.

And a wonderful Vanderbilt medical -- thank you so much doctor -- daddy here today.

Stay alleyways wouldn't.

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Flu outbreak raises questions about effectiveness of vaccine

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