Flu Vaccine Only 23 Percent Effective

Healthopolis

Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 | Roll Call Home »

Flu Vaccine Only 23 Percent Effective  By Paul Jenks This year's flu season is not only severe -- with increasing hospitalization rates -- but the selected annual influenza vaccine is not as effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday announced that the seasonal flu vaccine is only 23 percent effective against the current strains of the influenza virus. The rate is well below the typical effectiveness rate of 60 percent. Full story Push For Two-Year Spending Bills, Especially for the Indian Health Service  By Paul Jenks A bipartisan group of senators led by New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson this week proposed a measure (S 150) seeking to overhaul the entire budget and appropriations process by shifting spending bills into a two-year cycle. Such a change, which has been suggested by lawmakers in the past, would significantly alter the legislative timetable. Currently lawmakers scramble each year in April and May to pass a budget resolution and often are deadlocked on spending priorities at the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year. Full story Veterans’ Suicide and Volunteer Exemption Bills Advance