Reassessing Flu Shots as the
Season Draws Near
By RONI CARYN RABIN, New York Times
While I was searching for an article to write about
I came across one focused on the Flu Vaccine. I thought this would be a relevant and
very relatable article to write about. This article left me completely surprised.
This article
talks about how although public health officials are urging everyone to get flu
shots at this time of year and despite how much emphasis is put on the vaccination,
that it may not be as preventative as we think. The center of disease control released
a report stating that influenza vaccinations provide only modest protection for healthy young and middle-age adults, and
little if any protection for those 65 and older. “We have over promoted and
overhyped this vaccine.” This quote was taken from the article and was said by Michael
T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research.
Medical Researchers
concluded that the vaccination decreased symptoms in healthy adults under the
age of 65 and save people about a half-day of work on average, but that they do
not affect the number of people hospitalized and have minimal impact in seasons
when vaccines and viruses are mismatched. It concluded that the vaccines appear
to have no effect on hospital admissions, transmission or rates of
complications.
I had no idea that
vaccination had such little effect on us. After reading this I feel like more
emphasis should be put on the basics such as good nutrition, hand washing and
staying away from those who are already sick.
Amanda, this article surprised me as well. When someone hears the word ‘vaccine’ there is a comfort in knowing there are preventative measures and that getting that vaccine significantly decreases your chances of getting the disease. It makes us feel safe. It’s the same with the Flu Vaccine. But this article is taking that comfort and throwing it out the window.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that instead of encouraging the Flu Vaccine so much, more focus should be put on general public health. But it seems to me that the common person is spreading the idea of getting vaccinated more than someone in a public health position.
Amanda, Simple but great article. I couldnt help but laugh reading this because my mom just after watching the news and hearing about the state of emergency Boston is in due to the flu, she rushed to the nearest pharmacy and got her flu shot. Like my mom, many people like Michela said are comforted by knowing that they have the vaccine which will totally prevent them from getting the flu. I feel like people just listen to what doctors are spitting at them, If the doctor says to hurry up and get the flu shot there is all of a sudden a line at the local practices of people waiting to get their shots. Some say the shots actually make some sick. Does anyone care? Like Amanda said, what happened to the classic hand washing, good hygiene, eating right, and all around living a healthy and active life style? Does that do nothing for us anymore?
ReplyDeleteAmanda, I find this article very intriguing. I agree with Michela. Like most, I am quick to assume that the vaccine makes us practically immune to the disease.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a doctors appointment that I had a year ago. Without parental consent, my doctor quickly jabbed me with the vaccine. This is a breach of the Doctor-patient contract, and very illegal, but his argument was that this vaccine keeps both me and the public healthy. In hindsight, I am amused that this doctor would risk his job by not informing my mother, and give me a meaningless vaccine.
So in that regard, I disagree with Michela's point that the common person hypes up the vaccine. During flu season, I was bombarded with ads from Walgreens and Rite Aid concerning getting the shot, and my ex-doctor was a firm believer that this vaccine stood in the way of society's collapse!
I appreciate your comment about overall personal hygiene, and agree that it is the most important step to public health regarding the flu.