Changing flu strain swarms the nation and relief can't come fast enough

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- This year's flu season is hitting millions of Americans hard. And the Center for Disease Control just acknowledged this year's flu vaccine is less effective than once thought.

The CDC now estimates the shot only works 23% of the time.

Here's the deal, the vaccine is created in February when scientists make an educated guess on what will hit the population the hardest.

This season's vaccine has three strains of the virus, but one of those strains has changed -- causing millions to feel like garbage.

We are in the middle of a particularly bad flu season. Sarah Preder knows the struggle all too well.

"I could really feel it in my throat, that's how it started. It started getting irritated and then hurting and then after that came the nausea and that aches and pains," said Sarah Preder, sick with the flu.

Preder didn't get the flu vaccine this year and has been fighting the illness for weeks.

"I just still have the cough and a little bit of congestion," said Preder.

But relief can't come fast enough. Hospitals around the country are reporting a big increase in flu cases this winter.

"This was an early season it started early November and it's been very strong and hearty influenza," said Cynthia Johnson, Kenosha County Director of Health.

In fact, this season's vaccine was a poor match for the dominant viruses in circulation. The CDC says it's only effective 23% of the time.

"That particular antigen isn't effective because of the mutation and so that's what people are getting sick with and we're seeing an increase in hospitalizations for influenza," said Johnson.

The flu has also proven fatal for some, here in southeast Wisconsin there are now 3 confirmed deaths -- 2 of which are children.

"It really tells the story of how serious influenza can be," said Johnson.

And this flu season is far from over so health officials encourage folks to get the vaccine.

"It takes 2 weeks in order for your immunity to develop so I would say get it now because February and March are coming around the corner and people can still get ill," said Johnson.

The CDC is working on a universal vaccine that protects against all strains of the virus and could give 2 decades of protection.

That universal vaccine is expected to go into clinical trials later this year.