Elderly May Not Be Protected By Flu Shot

Another flu season is fast approaching. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.

Every year in the United States, on average:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;

• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and;

• about 36,000 people die from flu.

Some people, such as older people, are at high risk for serious flu complications. The CDC recommends a flu shot for all those 65 and older.

However, no substantiation exists that receiving a flu shot actually decreases mortality. “Catching the flu” was also impacted by how old you were. In the best information available, those between 65-69 had a 57% reduction in the flu; however, those over 70 had” only a 23% reduction.

So, how come all this time we have thought that the flu vaccine would not only decrease your risk of having flu, but also decreasing your chance of dying from the flu, if you caught it? Seems we have been more interested in stockpiling flu vaccine then in actually conducting quality research on whether it is effective in old people.

For those doubting Thomas’s, one needs to consider the amount of flu transmitted in 1997-1998. In reviewing those years, there was a complete mismatch of the vaccine and the type of flu bug ‘going around’. Old people did not die from the flu in any greater rates than in previous years.

Before older people start hum-bugging the advantages to getting a flu shot though; perhaps what they really need to do is get more than one. The reason for the flu vaccine not having any significant impact may be the weakened immune systems that go along with aging. Therefore, if a person got a flu shot in October, another ‘booster’ shot in January may bolster the usual immune response.

In any case, more research is soon to ensue, and the CDC guidelines need to be followed: If you are over 65 years old, get your flu shot.