Flu vaccines’ value exaggerated but still worthwhile

The benefits of influenza vaccine for elderly people have been exaggerated but despite these new findings it was still important for the elderly to receive the vaccination, according to an international group of scientists known as the Cochrane Review Group.

The group examined a range of studies and found that those with a low likelihood of bias “suggest that vaccine benefits are modest”.

The review of previous studies was published inThe Lancet Infectious Diseases journal and showed that the vaccine could not have prevented around half the number of deaths as had been claimed. However, the review group still advised that elderly people should continue to be vaccinated against influenza regardless.

“Influenza causes many deaths each year and even a partly effective vaccine would be better than no vaccine at all. But the evidence base concerning influenza vaccine benefits in elderly people does need to be strengthened,” the group stated.