Why the flu jab is a 'waste of time' for 97% of patients

Reports claim that the vaccine developed a year ago is no longer a match for the virus that has mutated so much.

17:58 06 February 2015

Health experts have warned that the flu jab that was developed just a year ago and which cost £7.60 per jab will only protect 3per cent of the population. They say it is because the virus that causes the illness has mutated and the vaccine can no longer match it.

Researchers at Public Health England looked at saliva samples from 1,314 patients with flu and found that only 3per cent had the H3N2 strain of the virus.

Yesterday, experts blamed flu for a sudden spike in death rates despite the fact that NHS provides most of the jabs for free each year. The Office for National Statistics show that just over 25,300 over 65 died in the last two weeks until January 23. The number is 40per cent higher compared to previous year.

Because of the alarming number, experts are now urging GPs to prescribe antiviral tablets – which treat the illness rather than prevent it – to all vulnerable patients as soon as they show symptoms.

Katherine Murphy of the Patients’ Association said: ‘It beggars belief that health officials weren’t aware just how badly the vaccine was working a long time ago. If they didn’t realise the scale of the problem until now they aren’t doing their job properly.’