This year's flu vaccine is proving to be ineffective for the most vulnerable age group: the elderly.

Health officials say the flu shot only helps about 9 percent of those 65 or older against this season's most dangerous strain.

This explains why so many older people have been hospitalized this year. The vaccine is only 27 percent effective protecting seniors against the three types of flu targeted this year.

Despite the findings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends everyone over 6 months old get inoculated, saying some protection is better than none.

According to the CDC, those who get the vaccine may suffer less severe symptoms if they contract the flu.