2003-2004

     1. The flu hit early
     2. The vaccine did not contain the type of antigen really needed for the season

The 2003-2004 flu vaccine contained:

The three strains in the vaccine for 2003-2004 were called:

     1. A/Panama,

     2. A/New Caledonia

     3. B/Hong Kong

The predominant flu in 2003-2004 was A/Fujian, which was not in the vaccine. It was an unusually early and severe flu season with the deaths of many children occurring in November 2003.

“Between October 2003 and early January 2004, the deaths of 93 children younger than 18 had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to preliminary data. Of the 45 children with a known vaccination status, one child had received adequate vaccination, 33 were not vaccinated, five were reported as vaccinated but the interval between vaccination and onset of illness had not been documented, and six children had received one dose of vaccine. It is recommended that children younger than 9 who haven't been previously vaccinated receive two doses of the flu vaccine about one month apart.” - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/204_flu.html