Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - There's a variant of the flu this season that may make the flu vaccine less effective, but one local doctor says that's not a reason to avoid getting the shot.
Dr. Joseph Chow of WNY Immediate Care says new sub variants can happen every year, because the vaccine is produced months earlier.
"It appears this season, there's a new variant that may be somewhat different from the what the flu shot had predicted," said Dr. Chow in an interview with WBEN.
Nonetheless, he says the flu shot is still one of the most effective ways of preventing the flu.
"It does still give protection, even if it's not a perfect match," Dr. Chow said.
Dr. Chow says this seems to be the dominant strain that's coming from other countries.
"This particular strain is the one of the H3N2s, and so the strain, they do tend to cause more severe symptoms than the H1N1s, but not necessarily any more than any of the prior H3N2," Dr. Chow explained. "Symptoms are still pretty typical for flu. You can get fever, sore throat, cough, body aches and chills, so pretty familiar symptoms, but these may be a little bit more severe."
Dr. Chow recommends getting the flu shot, despite the strain not being protected.
"There's what's called 'cross reactive mechanisms', where it'll still produce an immune response," Dr. Chow said. "You will get protection, even if the variants are not the same. From a matching standpoint, these typically for flu shots, and from what I've seen more recently about the strain."
He says it could provide up to 40% prevention of hospitalization and visits for the older population, and 70% for kids and adolescents.
"Even though this is a new variant, it still is going to be effective. And one of the best tools we have to prevent against the flu or reduce hospitalizations," Dr. Chow said.
Dr. Chow adds anytime you can get the flu shot is a good time to get it.
"We are already in late November, right now. So if you haven't had your flu shot, this is a great time to get it right now," he said.