http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/activities/sciadvice/Lists/ECDC%20Reviews/ECDC_DispForm.aspx?List=512ff74f-77d4-4ad8-b6d6-bf0f23083f30&ID=1024
Quote:
Influenza vaccine: selection of strains to be included in the seasonal vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere 2011-2012 – Early indications of seasonal vaccine effectiveness in Europe,
It needs to be noted that strain selection is one thing but the proof of vaccine effectiveness comes from the field studies. This is impossible to assess formally with trials each season even if they were ethically possible with such a dangerous infection and vaccines of generally proven effectiveness. Instead, observational studies of field vaccine effectiveness are used in Europe. The initial in-season results are available from Spain and the UK indicating that the new seasonal vaccines are effective in preventing laboratory confirmed mild infections of A(H1N1)2009 and B viruses but seemingly not as effective as the adjuvanted vaccines were at this stage following the pandemic.(5,6) Analyses of the effectiveness against A(H3N2) viruses in North America are not yet available.
The UK data showed 50% effectiveness, which means 50% FAILURE.