So fewer people get the yearly flu because of the lower infection rate but do we also have fewer deaths and infections because our bodies have developed immunity to the flu. Because this strand is new does that mean we have less immunity to it?
Natural immunity against the flu virus does not last so we can become vulnerable to the same flu serotype if we encounter it again. It only takes a minor mutation of a serotype for our immune system not to see it and we get sick.
The only way you can have immunity to the current flu is if you had a flu shot. And, even then, flu shots are not protecting you from the flu but decreasing your symptoms if you do get the flu.