Flu and vaccination

Introduction

Influenza (flu) places a significant disease burden on the global population each year. For health authorities it remains challenging to predict the magnitude and timing of the flu season. What they do agree on, is that an annual flu vaccine is the most cost effective and successful measure to contain this annual drain on state and private sector resources.

Of all the viruses, the influenza (flu) virus is without a doubt the most sinister. It can never be beaten as it mutates (changes) every year. That is why everybody has to be vaccinated with the new viral strain every year.

International scientists have set up an intricate surveillance system to monitor and track circulating flu viral strains.

This allows them to identify which strains will be circulating during the winter in both hemispheres (remember when traveling, the Northern and Southern hemisphere strains differ).