Harry Hall asks an important question particularly in relation to
children who are to be targetted at the beginning of the campaign [1]. In
particular there seems to be an absence of any data supporting the
vaccination of children against flu, and indeed the press release of
recent Mayo Clinic study suggests that it may increase the likelihood of
hospitalisation by 3 times [2]:-
"They found that children who had received the flu vaccine had three
times the risk of hospitalization, as compared to children who had not
received the vaccine. In asthmatic children, there was a significantly
higher risk of hospitalization in subjects who received the TIV, as
compared to those who did not (p= 0.006). But no other measured
factors—such as insurance plans or severity of asthma—appeared to affect
risk of hospitalization."
It was scarcely comforting that the authors seemed predisposed to
ignore the strong probability that not only were the vaccines not doing
any good, they were actually making things worse:-
“While these findings do raise questions about the efficacy of the
vaccine, they do not in fact
implicate it as a cause of hospitalizations,” said Dr. Joshi. “More
studies are needed to assess not only the
immunogenicity, but also the efficacy of different influenza vaccines in
asthmatic subjects.”
[2] 'Flu Shot Not Effective in Preventing Flu-Related
Hospitalizations in Asthmatic Children', http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/press-
releases/conference/articles/2009/abstracts-and-press-releases/joshi.pdf
Rapid Response:
Re: But does it work and is it safe?
Harry Hall asks an important question particularly in relation to
children who are to be targetted at the beginning of the campaign [1]. In
particular there seems to be an absence of any data supporting the
vaccination of children against flu, and indeed the press release of
recent Mayo Clinic study suggests that it may increase the likelihood of
hospitalisation by 3 times [2]:-
"They found that children who had received the flu vaccine had three
times the risk of hospitalization, as compared to children who had not
received the vaccine. In asthmatic children, there was a significantly
higher risk of hospitalization in subjects who received the TIV, as
compared to those who did not (p= 0.006). But no other measured
factors—such as insurance plans or severity of asthma—appeared to affect
risk of hospitalization."
It was scarcely comforting that the authors seemed predisposed to
ignore the strong probability that not only were the vaccines not doing
any good, they were actually making things worse:-
“While these findings do raise questions about the efficacy of the
vaccine, they do not in fact
implicate it as a cause of hospitalizations,” said Dr. Joshi. “More
studies are needed to assess not only the
immunogenicity, but also the efficacy of different influenza vaccines in
asthmatic subjects.”
Whatever happened to 'Primum non nocere'?
[1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1200012/Swine-flu-Every-
child-16-vaccinated--when.html
[2] 'Flu Shot Not Effective in Preventing Flu-Related
Hospitalizations in Asthmatic Children',
http://www.thoracic.org/sections/publications/press-
releases/conference/articles/2009/abstracts-and-press-releases/joshi.pdf
Competing interests:
Autistic son
Competing interests: No competing interests