The coughs and sniffles of winter flu season may be almost over. However, new information tells us this year’s flu shot may not be the reason, especially among the older population.

Doctors recommend the flu shot to prevent illness during the winter, but according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year’s vaccine did not get the job done.

The CDC report states it was only 9% effective for older folks and nearly 5 times as many people were hospitalized this year compared to last.

The Grand Junction VA Medical Center has given out over 6,000 flu shots this year. They still recommend getting the shot.

Spokesperson Paul Sweeney from the Medical Center says, "Especially be aware of those that are immune compromised. There are people out there who just had a transplant or bone marrow, or just come out of the hospital themselves. Please stay away from them."

Those with weaker immune systems like the elderly are more prone to this new strain of flu. The CDC is calling this strain H3N2 and it is making the shot less effective this year.

The medical center says a second routine shot is not being recommended because of the ineffectiveness.

Colorado has had fewer patients hospitalized with the flu than most states this year.