The promotional campaigns make it seem as though the flu shot is a one-shot solution to staying healthy all winter, providing protection from flu and pneumonia. New research shows that may not be so. While older people are still encouraged to get their annual flu shot, debate is roiling around a recent study of more than 3,500 seniors with the finding that a flu shot did not protect against the risk of developing pneumonia.
Each year’s flu shot consists of a unique recipe formulated of epidemiologists’ best guess of which viruses will be most prevalent in the upcoming season. It may or may not contain the virus strains you end up getting exposed to or sick from. The usual advice is to get the shot — it won’t make matters worse, and might at least keep you from getting as sick.
In a case-control study at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, researchers examined the effectiveness of the flu vaccine in seniors aged 65 to 94 years during the 2000, 2001 and 2002 flu seasons. They compared the medical records of 1,173 participants treated for community-acquired pneumonia with 2,346 age- and sex-matched people who did not get pneumonia. Both groups had intact immune systems and, as it turned out, similar rates of vaccination. It seems the vaccine did not prevent pneumonia, according to senior investigator Lisa Jackson, MD, MPH. “If the vaccine reduced the risk of pneumonia, persons who did not get pneumonia would have a higher vaccination rate than those who did,” she said.
Researchers took into account factors such as smoking history, lung or heart disease, and frailty and found no evidence of reduced risk of pneumonia among those who received flu shots. “We believe that the benefits of flu vaccine have been overestimated in previous studies,” Dr. Jackson told me. She said this may be because frail seniors are less likely to get the vaccine, while those who get annual vaccinations may be healthier from the outset. Findings were published in the August 2, 2008, issue of The Lancet. “Our theory is that factors that act as barriers to vaccination, such as difficulty walking or difficulty in conducting daily activities, make it less likely a person will get the vaccine in a given year.”
Dr. Jackson told me that future research should emphasize the need for more development and testing of new vaccines for elderly persons. One option might be simply increasing the dose (the amount of influenza viral protein in the vaccine), since vaccines with higher doses lead to a greater immune response in older people. Though this may be more effective, it is important to note that the side effects that sometimes accompany vaccination may present their own challenges.
In the meantime, follow these tips to ward off the flu this season…
As we always say, taking good care of yourself so your immune system is strong is very important. Follow a proper diet and get regular exercise and adequate sleep.
Take preventive immune-boosting supplements chosen for your particular health concerns. Flu season generally stretches from as early as October through as late as May.
At the first sign of symptoms, such as fatigue, headache or a sore throat, discuss with your doctor whether you should take natural immune-boosting anti-viral supplements such as Echinacea, elderberry and/or zinc lozenges, or reduce symptoms with Oscillococcinum.
