So you think flu vaccinations don't work . . . .

[Laidback Al]

Ask the parents of the dozens of children who died from flu this year if they are sorry they didn't get their child vaccinated.

105 US kids died of flu; most didn't get vaccine

March 23, 2013

By MIKE STOBBE

AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- The flu season is winding down, and it has killed 105 children so far -- about the average toll. . . . . Roughly 100 children die in an average flu season. One exception was the swine flu pandemic of 2009-2010, when 348 children died.

. . . All but four of the children who died were old enough to be vaccinated, but 90 percent of them did not get vaccinated, CDC officials said. . . .

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/22/health/kids-died-of-flu-most-didnt-get-vaccine

[sjalv]

19 year old presumably healthy individuals are not a high risk group for serious influenza infection. If you have contact with higher risk groups you place them at risk by not being vaccinated.

Thank you. Can you explain to me why I would be putting them at risk by not being vaccinated? I am guessing because bacteria that does not adversely affect me could be transferred to them, but their immune systems are not as strong. Is this correct?

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Thank you. Can you explain to me why I would be putting them at risk by not being vaccinated? I am guessing because bacteria that does not adversely affect me could be transferred to them, but their immune systems are not as strong. Is this correct?

Simplistically, yes. A mild illness for you could be fatal for an individual with decreased reserves.

[channtheman]

It's a blog post.

It makes some far fetched fictional "examples" written at a fourth grade reading level designed to scare individuals with a poor understanding of the data.

I agree the fictional examples don't help his case, but what about his conclusions regarding the manipulation of stats to make it appear that the flu shot is more effective than it is? Or that this study has a conflict of interest with those who funded it?

Also, does getting the flu shot mean a person cannot carry the flu virus on their clothes, hands, etc? How does getting the flu shot reduce transmitting the disease to other people you come in contact with?

[swalker123]

I think what we should do is to inform the public regarding this vaccine thing for parents or society as well what this vaccine can do to prevent death of children or adults alike.