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Are you describing yourself in that last sentence? "The current flu shot is only 9% effective for the elderly and only 56% effective in general, according to C

by yapcguy 13y ago

Are you describing yourself in that last sentence? "The current flu shot is only 9% effective for the elderly and only 56% effective in general, according to CDC figures. CDC officials are baffled why the vaccine is so ineffective in the elderly." NYT And from the Lancet: "Background: No published meta-analyses have assessed efficacy and effectiveness of licensed influenza vaccines in the USA with sensitive and highly specific diagnostic tests to confirm influenza. Findings (Interpretation): Influenza vaccines can provide moderate protection against virologically confirmed influenza, but such protection is greatly reduced or absent in some seasons. Evidence for protection in adults aged 65 years or older is lacking. LAIVs consistently show highest efficacy in young children (aged 6 months to 7 years)." http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2811%2970295-X/abstract http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-30... Heck, if the flu vaccine is so good for you why is it that health-care workers and doctors can't be bothered to get it? http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2961156-2/fulltext http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-67...

ceejayoz 13y ago
> CDC officials are baffled why the vaccine is so ineffective in the elderly. The elderly having a weaker immune system is hardly new knowledge. It's one of the reasons the people they come into contact need vaccinations, so the elderly and young children benefit from herd immunity. > Influenza vaccines can provide moderate protection against virologically confirmed influenza, but such protection is greatly reduced or absent in some seasons. Hardly surprising or new info. They put a couple strains in the vaccine based on what they think will crop up that flu season. Sometimes it's wrong and the vaccine doesn't do much good. Sometimes a new threat like H1N1 come up mid-season and they make an additional one. > Heck, if the flu vaccine is so good for you why is it that health-care workers and doctors can't be bothered to get it? Because there are just as many idiot doctors and nurses as in the general population? You'll find people who don't believe in evolution as doctors and nurses, too. Hell, my wife's nursing textbook had analyzing auras as a possible care component.
DenisM 13y ago
So I quote you 60% efficiency from CDC and you "retort" with a 56% from NYT quoting CDC. Where is the disagreement here? By contrast the post I replied to was asserting that flu vaccine is not effective at all, which is demonstrably false.
- yapcguy 13y ago
  Look, 9% is a far cry from 60%... is 9% effective? The 9% represents elderly people, a target group for the vaccine. I think what's more important is that anyone considering the vaccine should be told that they still need to take precautions with basic hygiene. The marketing/sales pitch implies too much that getting the shot means they're going to be immune ("be covered this Winter!"). It might result in them getting careless, not washing hands after being on public transport, touching their nose, etc. and getting sick.

by yapcguy 13y ago

ceejayoz 13y ago

> CDC officials are baffled why the vaccine is so ineffective in the elderly. The elderly having a weaker immune system is hardly new knowledge. It's one of the reasons the people they come into contact need vaccinations, so the elderly and young children benefit from herd immunity. > Influenza vaccines can provide moderate protection against virologically confirmed influenza, but such protection is greatly reduced or absent in some seasons. Hardly surprising or new info. They put a couple strains in the vaccine based on what they think will crop up that flu season. Sometimes it's wrong and the vaccine doesn't do much good. Sometimes a new threat like H1N1 come up mid-season and they make an additional one. > Heck, if the flu vaccine is so good for you why is it that health-care workers and doctors can't be bothered to get it? Because there are just as many idiot doctors and nurses as in the general population? You'll find people who don't believe in evolution as doctors and nurses, too. Hell, my wife's nursing textbook had analyzing auras as a possible care component.

DenisM 13y ago

So I quote you 60% efficiency from CDC and you "retort" with a 56% from NYT quoting CDC. Where is the disagreement here? By contrast the post I replied to was asserting that flu vaccine is not effective at all, which is demonstrably false.

yapcguy 13y ago
Look, 9% is a far cry from 60%... is 9% effective? The 9% represents elderly people, a target group for the vaccine. I think what's more important is that anyone considering the vaccine should be told that they still need to take precautions with basic hygiene. The marketing/sales pitch implies too much that getting the shot means they're going to be immune ("be covered this Winter!"). It might result in them getting careless, not washing hands after being on public transport, touching their nose, etc. and getting sick.