INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – Another flu season is here and health officials promise an improved vaccine this year.

Initial tests point to a better match between circulating viruses and those found in the vaccine, making the flu shot more effective than last year’s which was rated at only 19 percent.

Two of this season’s vaccine components, the influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B (Yamagata lineage) strains, have been updated to match the viruses Californians are likely to encounter.

Patients can request a special quadravalent that protects again four flu strains through their physician.

Two flu deaths have been reported in California.

The last flu season was dominated by mutated flu strains that were largely resistant to last year’s vaccine. Twenty-six people died of severe influenza in Riverside County during the last flu season which generally runs from October through March.

Flu vaccination clinics have opened and pharmacies are advertising flu shots on demand.

Story Date: November 27, 2015