Flu Shots and the Elderly

[Turquesa]

Could we talk about the article linked from Mothering's home page?

I'm just astounded that once again we're getting the line: "Oh, for the most part it doesn't really work. BUT DEFINITELY GET IT!!"

This part really had me rolling:

Despite these findings, Shay said the CDC had no plans to change its vaccine recommendations, though he added that the agency had financed studies to look for more effective influenza vaccines for the elderly.

Sounds great. Let's keep pushing the product with poor results. In the meantime, we'll work on developing another product that, like its predecessors, will go through inadequate testing before going to market and likely end up with poor results. But no matter what happens, do as the CDC says, dearie.

[mamakay]

"I really feel, and I feel very strongly about this, that the public health message should be that vaccines are effective," she continued. "I don't think that science is necessarily best hashed out in the media."

Oh, boo hoo.