Flu vaccine 'still worth it' despite reduced effectiveness

The Health Surveillance Protection Centre said the flu vaccine is still effective in the impending outbreak.

Yesterday, the HSE warned the country is facing an outbreak in the coming weeks and urged at-risk groups, like the elderly and pregnant women, to get vaccinated.

The flu outbreak is expected to increase in the next fortnight and circulate for up to two months.

Evidence from the US suggests the flu jab is just 25% effective against the current strain - far lower than its usual rate.

Dr Darina O'Flanagan, from the Health Surveillance Protection Centre, said the vaccination is still worthwhile.

"It can prevent up to about 70-80%, and in a really good year can be even up to 90%, but normally, it would be 60-65% effective against preventing anybody who's got the vaccine getting flu," she said.

"This year, for the particular strain … it'd prevent about 25% of them … but it's still worth doing."