The Centers for Disease Control released findings Friday that showed this flu season’s vaccination did not do a good job of protecting people, especially the elderly.

The CDC reports the vaccine was only 9 percent effective among patients 65 and older. It was 56 percent effective with the general population, which is slightly below average.

Indianapolis native Holly McGee found that out the hard way.

After suffering three heart attacks and two strokes, dying from the flu seemed far-fetched. That is until this year.

McGee said she got the flu shot in November of 2012, but by January of 2013 she got the flu and had to be hospitalized for eight days.

“I really felt I was going to die. It was horrible,” said McGee.

The State Department of Health reports 58 Hoosiers have died from the flu this year. Of those, 26 were vaccinated. There are a lot of explanations to the lack of effectiveness.

“Overall health, underlying conditions, sometimes people are exposed to flu before they get vaccinated,” said Pam Pontones, from the State Department of Health.

It could also be due to this year’s flu strain being more aggressive.

“There can be an influenza strain that produced a little bit more severe infection. That’s what we saw this year with the H3N2 strain,” said Pontones.

McGee said although she got sick after being vaccinated, she would get vaccinated again. She urged others to do the same.

“I know it’s crazy but I want to live,” said McGee. “If I have to go, I want to go with the big things. You know? I don’t want to go with the flu.”

The State Department of Health urges people to get the flu shot, despite these recent findings.

Full Story:  http://fox59.com/2013/02/22/cdc-this-years-flu-shot-only-9-effective-for-elderly/