Vaccines—Who Needs 'Em?

[drone]

Flu not dangerous? The Flu Pandemic of 1918 killed more than WW1. An unusual strain, for sure. Do we know if one will return? No.

To clarify, I never said that the flu was not dangerous. I just said that the non-pandemic influenza vaccine is not worth it. Too many mutations in the strains, and when a true killer like the Spanish flu comes around, odds are the vaccine will not stop it. We are about 2 months away from the next flu scare, with news orgs breathlessly going on about the unstoppable avian-feline H7N2 strain destined to kill 20% of the population.

With diseases like polio and pertussis, by all means get immunized. And if a potent flu strain hits, get the strain specific jab. But until they come up with a better influenza vaccine that targets whole strains based on the fundamentals, it's just whack-a-mole.

[Xiahou]

To clarify, I never said that the flu was not dangerous. I just said that the non-pandemic influenza vaccine is not worth it. Too many mutations in the strains, and when a true killer like the Spanish flu comes around, odds are the vaccine will not stop it.

Studies suggest that flu vaccines are still effective even when there's a mismatch in the viruses vaccinated vs what spreads...

What if there is a mismatch between circulating viruses and the vaccine viruses?

A “mismatch” is said to occur when the viruses in the vaccine are significantly different from those circulating in the community. In years when the vaccine strains are not well matched to circulating strains, vaccine effectiveness can be reduced. However, even when the viruses in the vaccine and circulating viruses are not well matched, a vaccine may still offer some protection against circulating viruses.

For example, in a study among persons 50-64 years of age during the 2003-04 influenza season, when the vaccine strains were not optimally matched, inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza was 60% among persons without high-risk conditions, and 48% among those with high risk conditions. However, vaccine effectiveness was 90% against laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalization (Herrera, et al Vaccine 2006). A study in children during the same year found vaccine effectiveness of about 50% against medically diagnosed influenza and pneumonia without laboratory confirmation (Ritzwoller, Pediatrics 2005). Still, in some years when vaccine and circulating strains were not well-matched, no vaccine effectiveness may be able to be demonstrated (Bridges, JAMA 2000). It is not possible in advance of the influenza season to predict how well the vaccine and circulating strains will be matched, and how that may affect vaccine effectiveness. For more information, see Vaccine Effectiveness - How Well Does the Flu Vaccine Work?

link

Obviously, the closer the match, the more effective the vaccine- but don't make the mistake of thinking that means the flu vaccine is completely useless.

[drone]

Studies suggest that flu vaccines are still effective even when there's a mismatch in the viruses vaccinated vs what spreads...

Obviously, the closer the match, the more effective the vaccine- but don't make the mistake of thinking that means the flu vaccine is completely useless.

Not disputing that either. But pushing the non-pandemic vaccine on the general populace (not just those most vulnerable or in health services) every year for a disease that usually results in just a few days of downtime, doesn't always work, and has a fairly high rate of immediate side effects, seems unwise in the long run. Perception matters, which is kinda the point of this whole thread.

[Sir Moody]

We don't do that here in ole Blighty - here only the at Risk groups get free flu jabs and anyone else has to "request" them and pay a fee - you are generally not encouraged to get a flu jab unless you really need one

[rvg]

From personal experience I have to say that flu vaccines are great. Since I started getting flu shots, I no longer fear the flu season.

[Strike For The South]

I don't get sick because I am a grown man

Also, someone needs to post the billy Madison clip where they call Vuk an idiot

[Lemur]

Okay, based on my experience with this loony vaccine denier, and our recent experience with a Holocaust denier, I have a broader question;

For most of us, more information is good. A variety of views and data help us arrive at a position that is supportable, or at least logical.

Why does this fall apart with conspiracy nuts? Why are they able to ignore all standard models of knowledge, and just thump along with confirmation bias? For most of us, if we're presented with ten scientific peer-reviewed papers that say gravity is real, and one loonbat website that says gravity is a Jewish hoax, we reach the conclusion that gravity is probably real.

But a conspiracy nut disregards the consensus, points to the fringe website or loony scholar or self-published Gravity Is A Lie book, and they believe they've revealed some secret truth.

What is this psychology? What fuels it? What sustains it? Why are conspiracy nuts so impervious to reality-based consensus? It seems almost like a mental disorder.

[drone]

From personal experience I have to say that flu vaccines are great. Since I started getting flu shots, I no longer fear the flu season.

And I haven't gotten the flu since I bought this rock!

I don't fear the flu because I played in dirt as a child, and am still exposed to germs of all kinds on a regular basis instead of trying to live in triclosan-drenched bubble. I follow George Carlin's reasoning on the immune system - Practice, practice, practice. Needless to say, many swear words.