Nationally Known VCU Hospital Epidemiologist Discusses This Year’s Flu Season

By Cheryle Rodriguez

Michael Edmond, M.D., chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the VCU School of Medicine and hospital epidemiologist for the VCU Medical Center, said influenza’s unpredictability complicates health officials’ preparations each year.  

“It’s generally a winter-time disease but we don’t know whether it’s going to be an early-season or late-season flu and we don’t know how much there is going to be,” Edmond said. “So we are never able to make good predictions about it.”

Public health officials say that this year’s flu season began about a month earlier than usual, with 47 states, including Virginia, reporting widespread activity.

A flu shot is still considered the best step to avoid contracting the virus. According to the CDC, this year’s flu vaccine is about 62 percent effective, meaning a person who receives the vaccine is 62 percent less likely to catch the virus.  

“What CDC tries to do each year is match the strains of the vaccine to strains that they believe are circulating in the community,” Edmond said. “They have to make a prediction and they have to make it early so that the vaccine can be manufactured.”

This season’s vaccine contains two influenza A strain protections and one influenza B strain protection. The A strain, which is called H3N2, predominates this season; the B strain has caused about 20 percent of the cases.  

The CDC continues to recommend the influenza vaccination for people who have not yet been vaccinated. Children six months and older are advised to get the flu shot.

The Federal Drug Administration has approved a different vaccine for people 65 years and older that has higher doses of the strains.

“Sometimes elderly people don’t respond to the flu vaccine,” said Edmond.  “By giving them the vaccine in a higher dose, we may be able to stimulate their immune system for more protection.”

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