Re: Navy Proves Flu Shot Causes Flu ???????????

I figured this would show up here!

Read the original study at CDC:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6342a3.htm?s_cid=mm6342a3_w

Note that 25 (24.5%) out of 102 crew members became ill with flu-like symptoms. Most of them were confirmed as flu with serological testing. That means that 75.5% DID NOT become ill. How can you interpret this as "worthless"? The close quarters of a small minesweeper like the USS Ardent is the prefect incubator for infectious disease transmission so this was an ideal test of the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. Long term historical statistics show that flu vaccines, year to year, are 50-90% effective [ Not 100%. The FLU incidence in vaccinated sailors on this navy ship is not out of the ordinary, it only confirms historical figures. Imagine, if you will, if NO sailor was vaccinated. Again, historical statistics support that about 80% of them would become ill if exposed. Readiness of our military is of the utmost importance and that's why full vaccination is an imperative. Military history reveals that infectious disease has all too often taken a larger toll than combat itself!

And as for the "Navy Proves Flu Shot Causes Flu" claim, this ship was homeported, not at sea. A quarter of the crew was allowed to go ashore on a daily basis. All evidence points to the sentinel case acquiring the flu while away from the ship.