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A new study
contends that the effectiveness of annual flu shots has been
exaggerated;
they have little or no effect on many influenza campaign objectives,
including
reducing the number of hospital stays, time off work, and death from
influenza and its
complications.
Influenza
vaccination programs in place are said to reduce the number of
cases of flu, in addition to related hospital admissions and deaths.
In the
United States, authorities
recommend flu vaccine for all children 6 months to
5 years old, anyone 50 or older, those with chronic health
conditions,
and health-care professionals and caregivers.
The effects of flu
programs could be exaggerated due to a conflation of
influenza with other influenza-like respiratory illnesses in published
reports.
In addition, much of the data being used to argue the effectiveness
of flu
vaccines is flawed because flu strains mutate from year to year,
making it
difficult at best to measure how well vaccines truly work.
also see
VACCINE DECISION
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British Medical Journal October 28, 2006; 33(7574): 912-915
BBC News October 26, 2006
HealthScout October 26, 2006 |
