Comments on: Flu shot does not lower Flu deaths http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/flu-shot-does-not-lower-flu-deaths.html Fitness Tips, Weight Loss Tips, and Healthy Tips to Change Your Life Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:44:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Jason Loxton http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/flu-shot-does-not-lower-flu-deaths.html/comment-page-1/#comment-17272 Jason Loxton Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:13:36 +0000 http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/?p=1848#comment-17272 This article is a slight misrepresentation of their findings. Eurich et al. found that most of an apparent 50% decrease in mortality between vaccinated and non-vaccinated elderly patients admitted *outside of flu season* for pneumonia disappeared when the patients were matched according to various criteria (medications, age, etc.) and grouped as individuals into pairs. They went on to suggest that a "healthy-user" effect (the patients least likely to die, i.e., those most concerned about their health, those who best follow recommendations, etc. are also those most slightly to get flu shots) explains the decreased mortality amongst the vaccinated, and that this effect might also impact estimates of mortality reduction *during flu season* from the flu vaccine. (Note: they did not themselves follow patients through the flu season.) I note that at least one subsequent study that adopted the methodological safe guards suggested by Eurich et al. *confirmed* that flu shots do reduce mortality, even after confounding factors are removed. (See here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19213779) Your title: "Flu shot does not lower Flu deaths," is somewhat misleading (both in general and in regard to the study of Eurlich et al.). Given the serious health consequences for certain demographics of choosing not to vaccinate, and given the hysteria and misinformation surrounding vaccination risk and benefits on the Internet, you might wish to choose your wording more carefully in the future. Cheers! Jason This article is a slight misrepresentation of their findings. Eurich et al. found that most of an apparent 50% decrease in mortality between vaccinated and non-vaccinated elderly patients admitted *outside of flu season* for pneumonia disappeared when the patients were matched according to various criteria (medications, age, etc.) and grouped as individuals into pairs. They went on to suggest that a “healthy-user” effect (the patients least likely to die, i.e., those most concerned about their health, those who best follow recommendations, etc. are also those most slightly to get flu shots) explains the decreased mortality amongst the vaccinated, and that this effect might also impact estimates of mortality reduction *during flu season* from the flu vaccine. (Note: they did not themselves follow patients through the flu season.) I note that at least one subsequent study that adopted the methodological safe guards suggested by Eurich et al. *confirmed* that flu shots do reduce mortality, even after confounding factors are removed. (See here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19213779)

Your title: “Flu shot does not lower Flu deaths,” is somewhat misleading (both in general and in regard to the study of Eurlich et al.). Given the serious health consequences for certain demographics of choosing not to vaccinate, and given the hysteria and misinformation surrounding vaccination risk and benefits on the Internet, you might wish to choose your wording more carefully in the future.

Cheers!

Jason

]]> By: Austin Lee http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/flu-shot-does-not-lower-flu-deaths.html/comment-page-1/#comment-8371 Austin Lee Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:25:12 +0000 http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/?p=1848#comment-8371 Nice post and synopsis of the latest findings. I'm in my fifties, and I've gotten the flu shot religiously every year for more than 20 years. I've done so for many different reasons over time. Very early on I did so because I worked in the hospital with very sick patients, and didn't want to get them sick. Like you, I also wanted to avoid getting sick and having personal down time. Though very unscientific, I believe I've 'skated' through every flu season unscathed due to my flu shot. My latest rationalization for getting vaccinated is that I take public transportation to/from work. When flu season hits, the sick folks travelling with me are miserable. I don't want to get sick, and I certainly don't want to pass anything along to them. I recommend the shot. Austin http://drughealth.blogspot.com/ Nice post and synopsis of the latest findings. I’m in my fifties, and I’ve gotten the flu shot religiously every year for more than 20 years. I’ve done so for many different reasons over time. Very early on I did so because I worked in the hospital with very sick patients, and didn’t want to get them sick. Like you, I also wanted to avoid getting sick and having personal down time. Though very unscientific, I believe I’ve ’skated’ through every flu season unscathed due to my flu shot. My latest rationalization for getting vaccinated is that I take public transportation to/from work. When flu season hits, the sick folks travelling with me are miserable. I don’t want to get sick, and I certainly don’t want to pass anything along to them. I recommend the shot.
Austin
http://drughealth.blogspot.com/

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