The flu season is expected to continue for several more weeks, with activity across the nation now elevated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday. A flu shot is still recommended, but the CDC estimated this year’s vaccine’s overall effectiveness in preventing an infection at just 47%. The shot’s success varies based on your age. Among children up to 17, its overall effectiveness against flu was 61%, while just 24% of adults 50 and older who received the shot gained protection against infection. Studies show that vaccination reduces the risk of influenza-related deaths in children; 80% of the children in the United States who died from flu last season were unvaccinated. Additionally, the shot “prevents a substantial number of influenza-related illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths annually.