2026 flu vaccine may have been less effective than 2025, CDC analysis shows

2026 flu vaccine may have been less effective than 2025, CDC analysis shows

CLEVELAND — This season’s influenza vaccine may have been less effective than last season’s, because it was not well matched against the flu strains in circulation, according to an analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Falls Below 50 Percent

With the worst of the flu season behind us, the CDC is reviewing the effectiveness of this season’s vaccines against this year’s influenza strain, Vaccine effectiveness for late 2025 and early 2026 in preventing outpatient visits and hospitalization for children was pegged as low as just 14 percent only reaching 48 percent, , Dr. Lisa Grohskopf with the CDC’s Influenza Division told a meeting hosted by the Food and Drug Administration. The shiel…