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Flu Vaccine Summary

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Every year during the fall and winter, flu season dawns upon us and everyone is advised to get a flu shot to protect themselves from the virus. Although all children over the age of six months and all healthy adults are recommended to get a shot, these shots are not completely effective in everyone in this age range. Studies have shown that the elderly in particular are not as effectively protected by the flu vaccine as younger people are. According to a news story published by CNN in 2013 entitled “Flu vaccine less effective, especially among elderly,” it was reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, that the flu shot given for the flu season in 2012 and 2013 was only 9% effective in adults over the age of 65 compared …show more content…
Frieden also said that a better vaccine is needed to help protect against all forms of the virus, hopefully one that works better and lasts longer. In another news story published by Scientific American in the middle of October of 2012 entitled “Flu Shots May Not Protect the Elderly or the Very Young,” many researchers reported on people over the age of 65 receiving vaccination for the flu. The CDC recommends that all people over 6 months old to receive the vaccination so that the spread of infection is slowed and the risk for other complications is minimized especially within children and the elderly. The news story said that one report that was published over a decade ago claimed that getting vaccinated for the flu cut the elderly’s risk of death in the winter by half. After more research to that claim, it was proven to be false. In 2005, a study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine which reported that the influenza virus only causes around five percent of deaths during the winter season. That adds up to be about 1 death in the elderly out of every 1,000 people who are affected by it. Looking at these numbers, it is impossible for the vaccine to prevent half of the deaths that occur in the winter. In 2006, another study was conducted by Lisa Jackson …show more content…
Both articles give great facts and information about how the vaccine is not as effective. The article from CNN gives many numbers and statistics which give readers a better idea of how many of the elderly are effected whereas the article from Scientific American gives many facts about researchers’ findings with the vaccine. I think both articles give a good approach to the topic because they both give different, valid information on the same topic, but I think the article from Scientific American takes a better approach to it since it is backed by research and solid facts. The part of the article that got me thinking is that the United States government finds it unethical to conduct clinical trials to figure out how to make the flu shot more effective on the elderly. Since so many people are recommended to get a shot, I feel like it should be clinically tested to help protect those people over the age of 65 as well. Most people over 65 are more concerned for their health and taking care of themselves compared to younger people which is why they would want to get the shot. Also, they would want to get the shot to prevent themselves from getting sick because the flu would take a harder toll on them

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