AMARILLO, TEXAS -- A new study shows that flu shots may not be as effective as we once thought they were.

According to a study done by the University of Minnesota, the influenza vaccines only protect about 59 percent of adults under the age of 65.

In the past, officials from the centers for disease control estimated that the vaccines were effective 70 to 90 percent of the time.

one local doctor says that doesn't mean you should not get your flu shot.

"My concern is that people may potentially read the single sentence that comes out in the media and in the way press that says it's less effective than what we thought it was and interpret it as it's not effective at all and that's not true," said West Texas Influenza Center Dir. TTUHSC, Dr. Todd Bell.

Researchers say flu vaccines would likely rank much lower than vaccines for other ailments like measles, but they also say flu research for all age groups is incomplete.