Flu jabs ‘can’t stop pneumonia’

BBC
Friday, Aug 1, 2008

One of the main benefits of flu jabs for the elderly – protection against pneumonia – may not exist, US scientists have claimed.

They say the risk of pneumonia for older people stayed the same, whether they received the jab or not.

The study, published in The Lancet journal, looked at pneumonia rates among thousands of vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

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The Health Protection Agency said the flu jab played a vital role.

Pneumonia represents one of the biggest threats to elderly people during the annual winter flu season in the UK.

It is either caused by the direct action of the influenza virus within the lungs, or by a separate bacterial infection taking hold while the person is weakened by flu.

In the UK, the over-65s, alongside those with chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes, are encouraged to have a yearly flu jab in the autumn.

This is not the first study to cast doubt on whether the vaccination programme actually does any good, even though some other studies have suggested that vaccinated older people are less likely to be admitted to hospital for pneumonia.

The latest research followed 3,500 people through three flu seasons to see if it made any difference, and while slightly fewer vaccinated patients were diagnosed with pneumonia, the difference was not statistically significant.

Full article here

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3 Responses to “Flu jabs ‘can’t stop pneumonia’”

1. Redhawk Says:
   August 1st, 2008 at 12:24 pm

   I got pnemonia the first time from reciving anesthetic for a shoulder replacement. The next year I took a pnemonia vaccination. I have had pnemonia twice since then. Last year I didn’t get pnemonia. I have been trying to eat healthier foods and definately stay away from people that are showing signs of being ill. I don’t know if I’ll get pnemonia again but I’ll not take another vaccination for anything. All I’m saying is educate yourself before you take any medical procedure.

2. WXYZ Says:
   August 2nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm

   Definitely the story of the week was the astounding revelation of
   of senior Nasa official Clark McClelland.

   McClelland supported astronaut Ed Mitchell’s claim that the military was interacting with alien races.

   McClelland revealed that he saw an 8 to 9 alien in the shuttle docking bay on his moniter during a classified shuttle mission.

   He also witnessed a UFO locked in a stationary orbit with the shuttle.

   You can find the link at;

   http:///hismailroom.com

3. useful eater Says:
   August 2nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm

   we all know what vaccines are for and everytime I read that the people most at risk need to take it the worst that makes me ill because thay want to finish those people off. doing away with the old and chronically ill saves the government money and the insurance companies that don’t have to pay out as much.