January 14, 2013 (USA TODAY) -- Today's flu shots aren't perfect
-- but a "universal" flu vaccine that works better and lasts
longer may not be far off, health experts say. In the midst of
an early flu season, health officials are urging unvaccinated
people to still get a flu shot as the best step they can take to
protect themselves and their families. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention said Friday that flu vaccines are 62%
effective. In the past, it had said 70% to 90% effective. In
public health circles, "there is a growing consensus that we
need better influenza vaccines," says Michael Osterholm,
director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and
Policy. "We're operating largely in the 1950s for our flu
technology." He published an influential analysis in The Lancet
last year showing that flu shots are less effective than
commonly reported. For kids and people over 65, there are no
rigorous data showing their efficacy at all. But the intranasal
vaccine (FluMist) protects 83% of kids und