3 ms·
> The FDA has already said that 50% effectiveness would be sufficient, which would put it about on par with the seasonal flu vaccine. I think it’s difficult to
by lettergram 6y ago
> The FDA has already said that 50% effectiveness would be sufficient, which would put it about on par with the seasonal flu vaccine.
I think it’s difficult to quantify how successful the flu vaccine is. I’ve reviewed the numbers and it’s not clear the general flu vaccine does anything. That being said, targeting specific strains can help (problem with flu is the various strains and ability to mutate so easily).
- liability 6y agoThey make a new flu vaccine twice a year and effectiveness is quantified each time. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/past-seasons-estimates.html https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/past-seasons-estimates...
- lettergram 6y agoThe problem is correlations. The flu naturally varies in severity by region, age, time, etc. Even the studies you linked, anything prior to 2010 is suspect by participant counts being way too low. More recent studies appear better, BUT we don’t have anything prior to when vaccines started to compare. I’m not saying the evidence isn’t there, I am arguing it’s circumstantial - aka not definitive how much it helps. Flu itself varies in severity widely. I’m honestly convinced the entire flu vaccine program / push is to keep the industry active. This is similar to the DOD spending money on new weapons they don’t need to keep manufacturing going
- nradov 6y agoThe NIH is attempting to develop a universal influenza vaccine. A clinical trial is currently underway. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/universal-influenza-vaccine-research https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/universal-infl...