This season’s flu vaccine is estimated to be 36%, reads the headline… However, buried in the fine print, are data showing FAR less effectiveness. For the H3N2 subtype (which has been isolated from 72% of cases) the vaccine is only 25% effective. Only in children ages 6 months to 8 years (59% effective) and young adults 18-49 years of age (33%) did the vaccine attain ‘statistically significant’ protection. For those over the age of 50, the authors estimate 17-18% efficacy but cannot tell for certain if it provided any benefit at all.