Research suggests flu vaccine doesn't prevent deaths among the elderly

[Celebration]

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/04/27/flu-vaccine-not-effective-in-elderly/

If the main point of the nation's influenza vaccination program is to reduce deaths from flu, then the program has failed, at least among people over 65.

A growing body of research shows that because our immune systems age, flu vaccines don't work as well in the elderly - the group of people most likely to die from flu-related causes.

The revelation has been so unsettling that public health officials have not shared the information widely with the public - even though some of the early findings have been a part of the scientific literature for several years now.

Michael Osterholm, who directs the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Tuesday told a national conference on vaccine research that it's time to be more open about the flu vaccine and its lack of protection for the elderly.

Osterholm also urged his colleagues to support attempts to create a new, effective vaccine.

[stray cat]

1. If you give a damn about the elderly - get a flu shot

its called the herd effect - if people get vaccinated there is less risk of infection for those for whom the flu is more likely to be fatal and for whom the vaccine is less effective. Vaccination helps those who can't help themselves - it should be a progressive value

[Celebration]

4. sure

But why give it to the elderly, if it doesn't help them?

[SidDithers]

8. Because the elderly who aren't vaccinated...

can infect the young and immunocomprimised, who were hit hard by this virus.

Sid

[damntexdem]

5. Yes, when an individual is vaccinated, a community is treated.

The elderly CAN be protected through herd immunity.

[xchrom]

2. This has been posted before and in it's proper

Perspective by people who understand science.

[Celebration]

6. apparently more people need to know this

When you have MDs saying

“We are still strongly recommending the seasonal flu vaccine be given to those aged 65 and over.”

Why? What is the "science" behind that statement?

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2010/04/28/doctors-fear-effect-of-not-vaccinating/

[truedelphi]

3. My MIL got her vaccine - and went from being very healthy to being

At death's door.

She is now fine, but only because of extensive acupunture that her daughter provided. And her recovery took months.

During last fall's "Let's all get a vaccine" season, I happened to visit a Carl's Jr and in the line of people waiting for their food, three people were talking about how sick they were after their vaccines.

The entire idea of vaccines for flu makes little sense to me.

[NickB79]

10. Wait, she went from "at death's door" to fine again with extensive acupuncture?

What did the ER staff say was wrong with her in the first place when she came to the hospital at death's door?

[mzmolly]

7. A shame if true.

I wonder if the pneumonia vaccine might be a better option? :shrug:

[tiptoe]

9. Addressing a 'ninth epidemiological conundrum' about influenza that questions vaccine effectiveness,

as presented in On the Epidemiology of Influenza, Drs. Cannell, Zasloff, Garland, Scragg, and Giovannucci agree in response to the question:

9. Over the last 20 years, why has influenza mortality in the aged not declined with increasing vaccination rates?

Given that influenza vaccines effectively improve adaptive immunity, the most likely explanation is that the innate immunity of the aged declined over the last 20 years due to medical and governmental warnings to avoid the sun. While the young usually ignore such advice, the elderly often follow it. ^87,88 We suggest that improvements in adaptive immunity from increased vaccination of the aged are inadequate to compensate for declines in innate immunity the aged suffered over that same time.

The implication is boosting of the innate immune systems of the elderly most likely is essential to their protection from influenza, moreso than vaccines alone. Since the elderly may require ten times the sun exposure as young adults for equivalent amounts of vitamin D3, the more practical means for doing so would be through vitamin d supplementation.