CDC's influenza vaccine for seasonal (non-pandemic) influenza, 2009-10

Useful facts regarding the standard (non-swine) flu vaccine: advice from CDC:

• 84% of the population is now advised annual vaccinations
• All children 6 months through 18 years of age are advised annual vaccinations
• Vaccination is recommended for “All persons who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting it to others”
• Vaccine last year was 44% effective
• An oculorespiratory syndrome, typically mild, has been linked to influenza vaccination, and it may or may not recur upon subsequent flu vaccinations; its pathogenesis is uncertain
• The flu vaccine for the 2009-10 season will contain the same H3N2 and H1N1 (NOT the swine H1N1) antigens as were in the past year's vaccine, but will have a new influenza B component
• Most flu last year was H1N1, and all tested H1N1 strains were resistant to Tamiflu, but sensitive to adamantanes. Tested H3N2 and Influenza B strains were sensitive to both Tamiflu and Zanamivir.