The Covid-19 pandemic killed off one strain of the flu, and that will change the next vaccines | CNN For 10 years, Americans have had access to flu shots that protect against four strains of the virus: two A strains and two B strains. Brenda Goodman CNN

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In 2020, all the precautions that helped people avoid Covid had an unexpected benefit: An entire branch of the flu’s family tree, a B strain that geneticists call the Yamagata clade, disappeared, and it hasn’t been detected since.

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Flu shots are doing OK vs. virus, US numbers indicate Early estimates suggest flu shots are performing OK in the current U.S. winter flu season. The vaccines were around 40% effective in preventing adults from getting sick enough from the flu that they had to go to a doctor’s office, clinic or hospital. AP News

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Officials generally are pleased if a flu vaccine is 40% to 60% effective.

The shots tend to do better when they are well matched against the circulating flu strains. Officials say that’s what’s happened during this — relatively typical — flu season.

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CDC advisory panel says people 65 and older should get a Covid spring booster shot An expert panel advising the CDC on vaccines on Wednesday recommended that people 65 and older should get an additional Covid-19 vaccine shot this spring. Helen Branswell STAT

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The recommendation was approved by CDC Director Mandy Cohen, allowing the United States to join Canada and the United Kingdom in offering a spring booster this year to people at high risk of severe disease if they contract Covid.