How effective are flu vaccines?
People are freaked out about the flu. Public-health officials have been fretting about bird flu and the possibility that it could turn into a worldwide pandemic.
There is not much anybody can do about avian flu. No vaccine has been developed, and there is not enough antiviral flu medicine to treat everyone. No one even knows yet whether the bird flu will actually morph into a real danger or if it will just remain a threatening prospect.
In the meantime, public-health pundits are urging high-risk Americans to sign up for their annual flu shots. Last year, shortages of flu vaccine created panic as people waited in long lines, only to have supplies run out.
This year, experts do not expect a shortfall of flu vaccine. But the heavy emphasis on immunization does not fit well with research on the efficacy of flu vaccine, especially for older, sicker people.
Posted by gruwell at October 30, 2005 5:56 AM | TrackBack