Check out this answer from Consensus:
Preventing influenza involves a multifaceted approach that includes annual vaccination, the use of antiviral medications, and the adoption of preventive behaviors. Vaccination remains the most effective method, though its efficacy can vary. Antiviral drugs provide an additional layer of protection, particularly when used promptly. Public health strategies should also emphasize the importance of preventive behaviors to complement vaccination efforts. Addressing barriers to vaccine uptake and conducting further research on vaccine effectiveness in various populations are essential for improving influenza prevention.
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness that affects millions of people worldwide each year. Preventing influenza is crucial to reduce its significant health burden, which includes severe complications and high mortality rates, especially during pandemics. Various strategies, including vaccination, antiviral medications, and preventive behaviors, have been studied to mitigate the spread and impact of influenza.
Key Insights
- Vaccination Efficacy and Recommendations:
- Vaccination is the primary preventive measure against influenza and is recommended for all individuals aged six months and older1 6 9.
- Vaccines are effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults and children, though the effect is modest in adults and less data is available for young children2 3.
- Live attenuated vaccines are more effective in children over two years of age, while inactivated vaccines are less effective in children under two years1.
- Annual vaccination is necessary due to the antigenic changes of the influenza virus3 6.
- Antiviral Medications:
- Preventive Behaviors:
- Challenges and Limitations:
- Vaccine efficacy varies each season due to antigenic drift and shift in the virus, which can make the vaccine less effective in some years6 9.
- There are barriers to vaccine uptake, including limited access to care and misconceptions about the vaccine6.
- More high-quality clinical trials are needed to determine the effectiveness of vaccines in specific populations, such as those with chronic respiratory diseases2.
Can we prevent the flu?
Anne Moore has answered Likely
An expert from University College Cork in Immunology, Vaccines
We can prevent being infected with influenza through vaccination & non-pharmaceutical interventions.
Can we prevent the flu?
Maria Sundaram has answered Near Certain
An expert from Marshfield Clinic Research Institute in Epidemiology
Yes. The best tool we have to prevent flu is the yearly seasonal flu vaccine, but we’ve seen with the COVID-19 pandemic that other things like washing hands and wearing masks can also be very helpful in preventing flu.
Can we prevent the flu?
Stephen Kissler has answered Likely
An expert from Harvard University in Epidemiology
Yes, partially. Vaccines help to reduce the spread of flu, but their main purpose is to reduce the severity of influenza illness, making it less likely that people with flu will need medical attention. Our experience with COVID-19 has also shown that non-pharmaceutical interventions like masking and physical distancing can almost completely suppress the spread of flu; this is probably why we didn’t see much flu spread at all in the winter of 2020. While we don’t want to have such severe restrictions every year to eliminate the spread of the flu, this still provides good evidence that more manageable, intermediate changes to our behavior could go a long way toward reducing influenza cases.
Can we prevent the flu?
Patricia Foster has answered Likely
An expert from Indiana University Bloomington in Biology, Genetics
We probably can’t eliminate the flu entirely, but we can knock it back with better vaccines. The problem with the flu virus is that it acquires genetic changes very rapidly, about twice as fast as the Covid-19 virus. As a result, vaccines developed against an existing variant, or the immunity that results from an infection, may be ineffective against the variant that shows up later, even within the same flu season. Also, neither infection nor the current flu vaccines induce long-lasting immunity. Scientists are currently working to develop more effective vaccines that will trigger the immune system to target parts of the virus that do not change so rapidly. We are facing the same problems with the Covid-19 virus, and research is ongoing to develop a more effective vaccine against Covid as well.
Can we prevent the flu?
Ian Frazer has answered Unlikely
An expert from University of Queensland in Vaccines, Vaccinology
Not entirely. We have vaccines which are partially effective at preventing the currently circulating flu viruses: they reduce the chance that you’ll get seriously sick, and are generally targeted at the more vulnerable (the elderly, the very young, and those working in the health care industry). However, the flu viruses change regularly, so there is always a chance that a new variant will emerge that the vaccines cannot prevent.
Can we prevent the flu?
William Rawlinson has answered Likely
An expert from UNSW Sydney in Virology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology
We can prevent the most severe consequences of the flu in most people using yearly vaccination. Some people (older, immune compromised) do not respond as well to the vaccine, but also these are the people at most risk of severe complications from flu infection, including death. So yes, we can prevent the worst of the flu in most people.
We can also treat the flu with neuraminidase inhibitors, and if given early, these are also effective in treatment, and in some settings as prophylaxis.