Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:11 pm Post subject: Flu Jabs could be a "waste of time".
Millions of flu jabs handed out to pensioners every year could be a waste of time because they do not reduce hospital admissions, a new report claims today.
The study, compiled by Government advisors, is the latest to cast doubt on the effectiveness of the annual flu vaccination campaign.
More than 15 million people - including three quarters of over 65s - will receive the jab this winter at a cost to the NHS of £115 million.
But a new study in a respected medical journal said there was no reliable evidence to show any decline in hospital admissions and flu deaths despite a massive increase in the proportion of pensioners vaccinated.
The research into the impact of the influenza vaccine on English patients has prompted some scientists to call on ministers to scrap the annual campaign altogether.
Although the new report, published in the online version of the medical journal Vaccine, does not call for flu jabs to be abandoned, it says their effectiveness may have been exaggerated.
Another study published last month came to similar conclusions, saying there is no evidence the vaccination programme cuts elderly deaths.
Dr Peymane Adab, one of the new report's authors and public health lecturer at Birmingham University, told GPs' magazine Pulse: "Flu vaccination is not the major driver of hospital admissions, so putting all our efforts into vaccination won't have a major impact on admissions.
"We should look at other factors instead - like reducing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, treating chest infections and promoting smoking cessation. These are probably going to be things that are more effective."
The study looked at 3,970 people in England aged between 65 and 89 and compared data on hospital admissions with whether or not they had had the jab.
It found that even after taking into account the person's age, sex, illnesses and level of deprivation, flu vaccine had no effect on admissions for acute respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and emphysema.
The research said flu was an 'important contributor' to the development of respiratory infections - meaning that people having the vaccine would be expected to suffer fewer of these infections.
The researchers, one of whom was from the Government advisors the Health Protection Agency, said their results showed that the effects of the elderly on the vaccine are 'likely to be overestimated', and warned: "Solely relying on the influenza vaccine to control the annual winter bed pressure in hospitals is unlikely to be a sufficiently effective yearly strategy."
The HPA's Jeremy Hawker, one of the authors of the paper, said: "We found that, of the elderly people who became ill with an acute respiratory infection such as bronchitis and/or emphysema, not just flu, in the winter, the ones that ended up in hospital were no less likely to have been vaccinated than those who were successfully treated in primary care.
"We therefore suggested that there is a need to think of additional measures in this particular group to reduce winter pressures in NHS hospitals."
He added: "However, this does not negate the need for influenza vaccine, as other studies that were specifically designed to address this question, show demonstrable benefits in reducing both infection and subsequent morbidity and mortality in the elderly."
The researchers noted that the jab was effective in preventing flu in 67 per cent of cases among healthy young adults.
However, it was known to be less effective in protecting elderly people.
The report yesterday fuelled growing calls for ministers to consider whether the jab was worth the huge cost to the NHS.
Vaccine expert Dr Tom Jefferson said: "This adds to the uncertainty, but I'm not sure people are taking any notice.
"What I want to see is the Government taking stock of this because this is a major health campaign every year that uses public money."
Jo Haynes, editor of Pulse, said: 'Each year, GPs face weeks of frantically busy flu clinics in order to make sure everyone eligible is vaccinated.
"It's a stressful and extremely expensive business, and doctors and patients need to know that the whole process is worthwhile.
"It's time ministers took notice of the growing doubts over flu vaccination, and commissioned a large-scale trial to sort out once and for all whether vaccination works."
The first flu vaccine was developed during the second world war and the Government has recommended its use since the late 1960s.
A programme to vaccinate everyone over the age of 65 began in 2000, and now more than 15 million people in England receive the flu vaccine every year.
Priority is given to those aged 65 and over and around three-quarters of pensioners receive protection.
It is believed that 12,000 Britons died from flu in the winter of 2005/06, when outbreak rates were relatively low. But in a typical year around 25,000 die from flu.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The aim of our influenza policy is to protect those who are most at risk of serious illness or death should they develop influenza.
"Although vaccination may not protect all elderly people from flu virus infection, experts advise that the majority of them benefit by at least having a less severe illness.
"UK policy is constantly under review to take into consideration all available evidence and this new study on hospital admissions adds to this evidence base."
The Lancet review found last month that the benefits of offering jabs to over 65s had been 'greatly exaggerated' and there are no figures to back up claims that lives are being saved.
They said that few vaccine trials have actually included elderly people. The little evidence that is available suggests that the clinical benefits of vaccination decline with advancing years, especially after 70.
Researchers from George Washington University, Washington DC, said that no study could show a decline in flu deaths since 1980, even as vaccination coverage increased from 15 to 65 per cent.
And Last October experts at the Cochrane Library, an independent body tghat examines the effectiveness of treatments, found flu jabs had little or no effect on deaths, the length of hospital stays or time off work.
However Dr George Kassianos of the Royal College of General Practitioners said the flu vaccination should be extended, not restricted.
"The UK schedule for influenza immunisation is relatively narrow, allowing the infection to circulate," he said.
"We need to officially extend annual influenza immunisation to people aged 50 years and above, as well as immunising young children."
Quite possibly. Then again, if you are suffering from diabetes or a heart condition, it's probably best that you have one anyway.
But I still don't think it's wise to give them to healthy people.
(Personally, I prefer to rely on my Garlic Capsules to help boost my immune system.) _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
I have never had a flu jab,I did get flu last year but only spent a morning in bed Oh got it as well so we were proper poorly together,but after about a week we were ok again,I could not tell you the time we had flu before that years anyway,I think if you do suffer from different problems it is a wise move, but if like us I think you should leave well alone:?
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
