Re: Influenza Vaccine Programs May Be Pointless

http://www.nj.com/opinion/times/letters/index.ssf?/base/news-1/11629649551876...

Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Centers for Disease Control Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said last month, "I hope we use absolutely every one of those (flu vac cine) doses, but we know that the demand for vaccine doesn't really match up to the list of people who we think really should have it."

Who does the CDC think should "really" have it? What is that recommendation based on?

The CDC in 2004 looked at workers in a children's hospital in Colorado, and reported that that year's flu vaccine had little or no effectiveness against influenza- like illnesses. Of the 1,000 people who got the vaccine before Nov. 1, 2004, 149 went on to develop an influenza-like illness (14.9 percent). Of the 402 people who did not get the vaccine, 68 got an influenza-like illness (16.9 percent), the study found.

Tom Jefferson, M.D., and colleagues at Cochrane Vaccines Field in Italy, conducted a review of the flu shot's efficacy. Their findings were reported in the Sept. 22 issue of The Lancet. According to the study, vaccines against influenza are only "modestly effective" in people in long- term care facilities and even less effective for elderly people still living in the community.

I am curious as to what is the basis for recommending more flu shots.

-- BOB MANTZ