This year’s flu shot will be missing a strain of influenza it’s protected against for more than a decade.

That’s because there have been no confirmed flu cases caused by the Influenza B/Yamagata lineage since spring 2020. And the Food and Drug Administration decided this year that the strain now poses little to no threat to human health.

Scientists have concluded that widespread physical distancing and masking practiced during the early days of COVID-19 appear to have pushed B/Yamagata into oblivion.

  • JackFrostNColaEnglish
    21•2 months ago

    Imagine if the world could get its shit together for a planned 4 week lockdown, everyone has ample time to prepare, get supplies and set up for the lockdown, then we simultaneously all hunker down except for the most vital people running essential services (hospitals, water plants, power plants, etc).
    We could wipe out so many transmissible viruses, even wiping out the common cold alone would pay back the entire cost in lost business hours.
    Im not saying we wipe out things to be able to work more, but wouldn’t you rather be at work than feeling terrible in bed? (It’s about the quality of life improvement.)

    • @BallsandBayonets
      9•2 months ago

      I love the thought, but the reality is there are enough actually essential services (though much fewer than the owner class defines as essential) that we wouldn’t wipe out viruses that easily. Not to mention the impossibility of getting other countries to do anything similar.

      STDs, on the other hand…

    • Flying Squid
      0•2 months ago

      A huge number of viruses have both human and non-human vectors and jump back and forth between us. Many dog owners can tell you about how both they and their dog once got sick at the same time. I doubt it would actually stop as much transmission as you think.