Flu Mounts Most Serious Challenge In Decade, Vigilance Urged

DENVER (CBS4) - As Colorado witness a record number of hospitalizations due to the flu, the CDC said this season's vaccination is merely 23 percent effective in preventing the virus.

That means more than one in four people is likely to contract the flu.

This season, more than 2,300 state residents have been hospitalized with the flu, the highest number ever recorded in Colorado.

Nationwide, 46 states have reported high levels of influenza. Twenty-six children have died, including two in Colorado.

The CDC said the vaccine might be the least effective in 10 years, covering just 20 percent of the strains.

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"It's been one of our most severe seasons in quite a few years," Margaret Huffman with Jefferson County Public Health said Friday. "The flu vaccine always has some variation in efficacy from year to year. It depends on what's circulating. This year, the circulating strain is a little bit different than what's in the vaccine."

Vaccines are typically closer to 60 percent effective. Vaccine producers must predict what strains will arrive because manufacturing begins about six months prior to when it's available for distribution.

"There will always be some margin of error," Huffman said.

While flu season has reached its peak, doctors say it's not too late to get the vaccine.

It still provides protection, and if patients become sick, they'll be less ill than if they weren't vaccinated. Beyond that, frequent hand-washing, hand-sanitized use and staying home when ill help halt flu's spread.