FLU VACCINE EFFICACY IS SCANT AMONG YOUNG AND ELDERLY
At least 120 million Americans roll up their sleeves to have their annual flu vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that yearly shots be taken although there is little evidence the flu vaccines help individuals who are young and or elderly. These findings are among age groups younger than 2 or older than 65. The report indicated that most healthy adults get some protection. A 2005 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine noted that influenza only caused about 5 percent of all excess winter deaths among the elderly—that’s about one death in 1,000 older people. The study claims that it’s impossible for the flu shot to prevent half of winter deaths. Researchers discovered odd finds that people whom are most frail or with health conditions do not get vaccinated and often indicating that healthier people who take the annual vaccine are least likely to die.
In January 2012 Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota’s Centers for Infectious Disease Research and Policy analyzed and published results of a clinical trial conducted between 1967 and 2011 on the effects of flu shots. Findings showed that most elderly were protected the majority if they were given the live-attenuated vaccine—which is inhaled vaccine that contained live, modified version of the virus which is not approved in the U.S. for adults over 65 Still it is recommended that elderly received their annual flu shots because they are most likely at risk of getting the flu.
Based on source of information from: Article by Melinda Wenner Moyer: Flu Shots May Not Protect the Elderly or the Very Young
NEWS UPDATE: 12.05.2012
While the Center for Disease Control has realeased strain of flu has already begun in many states. The latest vaccine has been said it may make the receipiants sicker than ones given in past winters. However, this is focused most again on the elderly and the young. Still it is highly recommeded that all the specific aged and young have the vaccine.
