It is truly concerning that every single year we are forced to battle a brand-new, sneaky version of the flu. The main reason the virus changes so much is a process called antigenic drif,t which is basically just a series of small genetic mistakes the virus makes as it copies itself. These tiny copying errors eventually add up until the virus looks totally different to our immune systems. Because our bodies don’t recognize these new versions, we can get sick over and over again throughout our lives. It feels like a never-ending game of hide-and-seek where the virus is always changing its disguise. This is exactly why scientists have to work so hard to update the flu shot every single year to try and keep up.
This year has been especially brutal because of a specific new version of the virus called subclade K. It has several major mutations that weren’t expected when this year’s vaccine was being made. It is so alarming to see hospitalizations rising so quickly because this version is much better at sneaking past the protection we usually have. Even though it isn’t necessarily a more deadly strain on its own, it is spreading like wildfire because so many people are vulnerable to it. It really feels like a “perfect storm” where the virus changed just enough to make a huge number of people sick all at once.
On top of the virus mutating, this season was also made worse because fewer people ended up getting their flu shots. When vaccination rates drop, the virus has a much easier time jumping from person to person across schools and offices. It is so heart-wrenching to see record numbers of kids and older people getting hit so hard by something we could have fought better together. Even when the vaccine isn’t a perfect match, it still helps keep people out of the hospital and makes the symptoms way less intense. We have to remember that our choices affect everyone around us, and staying protected is the best way to end such a rough season. It is a huge relief to know that even a little bit of extra immunity can make a massive difference in saving lives.
