Question about the flu shot and immunity to flu strains

[Ginevra]

As I understand it, vaccine producers choose a strain of the flu every year and develop the vax for that strain and some years, their guess is better than other years. What I am curious about is this: does a person who gets a flu vaccine every year build up their immunity to strains of the flu? So, like if a person got the flu shot every year for ten years and a novel strain of the flu cropped up (in the manner of CV19), would that person have better immunity? Or is it level playing field because a mutation is novel to everyone in the same manner? 

 

[mmasc]

Listening in. I’ve wondered the exact same thing @Quill since this pandemic started. 

[Tap]

In theory, yes, as long as it is similar to prior strains of the flu virus that people were vaccinated for.  There are multiple different flu shots out each year. There are trivalent (3 strains) and quadrivalent (4 strains). There are also high dose flu shots for the elderly, which have the same strains as the trivalent but in a higher concentration. Some shots have adjuvent to make them more potent. Some are recombinant (without virus or eggs).

I only say all this to help people know, that not everyone gets the exact same flu shot. Some people may get the shot, but not get the same immunity from it as the person getting a 'flu shot' next to them. 

This topic has some evidence to the contrary too tho. Here is an article that mentions both pro-yearly vaccination and some possible risk factors.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Tap said:

In theory, yes, as long as it is similar to prior strains of the flu virus that people were vaccinated for.  There are multiple different flu shots out each year. There are trivalent (3 strains) and quadrivalent (4 strains). There are also high dose flu shots for the elderly, which have the same strains as the trivalent but in a higher concentration. Some shots have adjuvent to make them more potent. Some are recombinant (without virus or eggs).

I only say all this to help people know, that not everyone gets the exact same flu shot. Some people may get the shot, but not get the same immunity from it as the person getting a 'flu shot' next to them. 

This topic has some evidence to the contrary too tho. Here is an article that mentions both pro-yearly vaccination and some possible risk factors.

This is very helpful and is exactly what I was wondering. Thanks! 

[DesertBlossom]

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2013/03/study-getting-flu-shot-2-years-row-may-lower-protection

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387051/

Edited March 25, 2020 by DesertBlossom

[ktgrok]

7 hours ago, Tap said:

In theory, yes, as long as it is similar to prior strains of the flu virus that people were vaccinated for.  There are multiple different flu shots out each year. There are trivalent (3 strains) and quadrivalent (4 strains). There are also high dose flu shots for the elderly, which have the same strains as the trivalent but in a higher concentration. Some shots have adjuvent to make them more potent. Some are recombinant (without virus or eggs).

I only say all this to help people know, that not everyone gets the exact same flu shot. Some people may get the shot, but not get the same immunity from it as the person getting a 'flu shot' next to them. 

This topic has some evidence to the contrary too tho. Here is an article that mentions both pro-yearly vaccination and some possible risk factors.

Good point. I probably need to look into this more, as my son had a pretty nasty reaction to the flu shot (high fever for days, aches, etc ..I actually forget the rest but I know it was concerning and beyond the typical reaction.) And he is already allergic to certain antibiotics, so I am more cautious with him than the others with regard to reactions. Makes me wonder if it would be worth figuring out which kind he had, and having him try a different one. Thinking maybe the recombinant type would be easier on him - at least in vet medicine the big bonus of those was they had less reactions in cats, lol.