Study Finds Flu Vaccine is 23 Percent Effective

[Demeter]

Source: WDET


A study from the Centers for Disease Control has found a person’s risk of contracting the flu is reduced by about 23 percent after getting this year’s flu shot. However, older adults and young children are at a higher risk for getting the flu.

Arnold Monto is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and an author of the study. He says the outcome is not unexpected.

“We had predicted that we might have lower than usual efficacy this year because the virus has changed since the vaccine was formulated, and the vaccine is now not quite performing as well as we would like.”

Monto says typically, the flu shot reduces risk by 60 to 70 percent. He says people should still get the flu shot since it can reduce the severity of the illness.


Read more: http://wdet.org/news/story/study-flu-vaccine-23-percent-effective-01-16/

[SunSeeker]

1. Still enough reason to get a flu shot. nt

[BlueJazz]

2. What SunSeeker said.

[Manny Man]

5. Saw the doc today for my annual checkup

Asked me twice if I got my flu shot - I did back in October - from him.

He did mention that the flu shot wasn't effective this year but does protect from getting the worst of it.

After seeing my wife with the flu two years ago, we both swore we'd get the shots. It wasn't a fun visit to the urgent care center and get an IV on the spot.

She was so dehydrated, it was unbelievable.

[Delphinus]

19. Hi Manny Man.

Welcome to DU!

Hope you and your wife stay healthy.

[Skittles]

3. disappointing but I will take any protection over none

[daleanime]

4. Amen....

[jtuck004]

6. Anti Microbial Resistance, AMR. Kills 700K/yr today, expect 10 million by 2050

I know this is a different subject, but it had me thinking about drug failures...



Down the page a ways, http://blogs.cfainstitute.org/investor/2015/01/14/the-blueprints-of-alpha-29-charts-29-comments-and-the-new-hotness/Here.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Actually, the % is lower:

Among adults, the VE was 12% for people ages 18 to 49 and 14% for people 50 and older.

[Ms. Toad]

11. It is probably less reduced effectiveness -

and more that you are comparing the effectiveness of a relatively ineffective vaccine to a control group with better partial immunity based on prior years' exposure to similar strains.

[Reter]

8. I was going to get a flu shot but my doctor talked me out of it

He asked when the last time I had the flu was. I told him around 10 or 11 years ago, and he said that it's a waste of time then, and if it's not broken, don't fix it.

[SunSeeker]

9. It would have taken no "time." You were already in the doctor's office!

Plus, flu shots are free (no co-pay if you have health insurance) thanks to the ACA.

My husband went more than 15 years without a flu shot or getting the flu. He thought he was bullet proof. Then last winter he came down with the scariest flu--he could barely move, 103 fever, shaking with chills. I had to drag him to urgent care wrapped in a blanket. It was fucked up. This year he got a flu shot.

I always get a flu shot. It's stupid not to, unless you have some medical reason not to. "If it's not broke don't fix it" is not a medical reason. I would get a new doctor if I were you.

[leftyladyfrommo]

13. I'm with you. I never get the flu but I always get a shot.

I really don't want to have the flu.

[pasto76]

14. lemme splain this to you

a vaccine is intended to prevent and/or reduce the severity of an illness. Note that second part. _reduce the severity_. I had a flu type thing 3 years ago. because I was vaccinated, instead of the full blown flu, I had a fever for a few hours, one body chill and then a nasty sore throat for a week.
I didnt miss work - means I didnt lose any money. Also means my project didnt fall behind schedule. win-win.

your quack doctor is implying that you are somehow immune to influenza.

[dolphinsandtuna]

20. Lemme splain this to you, psato76

I had my first ever flu shot a few years ago. I promptly got sick as a dog and then shortly after became partly paralyzed with Guillain-Barre. My neurologist said never to get a flu shot or several other vaccinations again as it would be worse next time. I still have residual nerve problems in my feet, although at least I am breathing without a respirator.

That's what the CDC and the uninformed Everyone Should Get Vaccinated people do not mention (or know, in most cases.)

[mackerel]

21. You got the Guillain-Barre as a result of a flu shot? I have heard of that and I do know

two case that are similar (btw both got turned down for their Disability-T2). There is a difference though with flu shots vs. vaccines.

[Skittles]

22. I would ditch that doctor

[Reter]

23. No, I like him and now I agree with him

Had a lot of friends talk me out of it. Like Bill Maher I'm no anti-vaxer but I'm not getting any flu shot ever.

[Skittles]

25. love people who think only of themselves

[djean111]

26. So, he should risk getting Guillain-Barre again? Worse?

I do think it would have been helpful to have had this info in the first place, but - you would really wish that on someone?

[Skittles]

27. where does reter say he got G-B?

[djean111]

29. Here, look up -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1015783

Maybe he added that after you read his first post.

[Skittles]

30. that is not reter

[Widget2000]

28. What is the point of this anecdote here?

You can't receive the shot bc you were afflicted with GB, but why wouldn't you want others to get it to maintain more widespread immunity? Your situation is an extreme minority, and you didn't even clarify the GB in the original post. So what's the MO here?

[YOHABLO]

10. I can't keep up with the acronyms .. sorry

[BrotherIvan]

12. A good reason to give your immune system some love and to keep it strong and healthy!

Microbiota people! They are you.

[Paladin]

15. Bill Maher was using this to support his anti-vaccination campaign on last night's show.

This was early in the hour, before the Muslim-trashing diatribe with which he ended the show. Asshole.

[Sunlei]

16. Think I will up my favorite lemon water drink to 3 lemons a day.

I still think it's worth it to get the 23% effective vaccine if you're already exposed to the air where sick people congregate.

Or if you plan to breath any place where exposure is likely, like airplane air, schools and doctors waiting rooms.

[AtomicKitten]

17. Had a flu shot, have the flu.

Straightup butt- kicking infuenza.

[Gormy Cuss]

18. I picked the wrong year to get a flu shot.

j/k, although this is an abysmally low effectiveness rating.

[shanti]

24. well, that's reassuring