The flu vaccine saves lives

  We always knew it, but now a study done by the CDC in the journal Pediatrics, proves it.  US children who died of influenza were less likely to have received the vaccination. They looked at four years of pediatric deaths related to the flu. In children that died- 75% did not receive the vaccine.  The shot provides significant protection for ages 6-17. You should do it!  The overall effectiveness at preventing death was 65% for healthy children and 51% for children considered high risk (with a diagnosis of heart or lung disease)

   I know what you’re thinking…that’s not very high. I want a flu shot that is 100% effective (or at least closer). I know…they are still working at improving the flu vaccine and it must not be easy because they’ve been working on improvements for YEARS.  So we have to say that avoiding death 50-65% is still pretty good.

   Try to get the flu vaccine by the end of October.  The flu mist wasn’t found to be as effective as it should be this season so we can’t offer this (sorry…but good to know that we stay up to date on these things right?)

Susan Badaracco MD (and author of “The Oath”)