WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Study: Flu shot only 59% effective

New York City, New York - October 26, 2011

A new study shows the flu shot may not be as protective as consumers think.

Paul Witte is getting the flu shot to try to keep his nearly two-year-old twins healthy. "It's miserable when they're sick so you don't want to be part of it, or part of the reason that they're getting sick," he said.

About 100-million Americans will get the flu shot this year, but a new study shows it may not be as effective as you think. the study in the journal, The Lancet, shows over the last four decades the shot only kept the flu away from healthy adults about 59-percent of the time.

But researchers say the nasal spray vaccine for children under seven wards off the flu 83- percent of the time. "Young adults and older children have the best immune response to the vaccine, and older patients have always had a weaker immune response to the vaccine," said Dr. Jahangir Rahman with New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone over six months old get vaccinated for the flu and doctors say this study doesn't change that. "Besides washing hands and general healthcare measures there's nothing else that will prevent influenza short of the vaccine itself," Dr. Rahman said.

Paul Witte says any chance to keep his kids healthy is worth it. "Those are pretty good betting odds, 59-percent, I'd take those odds in Vegas," he said.

And the effectiveness of the vaccine is always a gamble since flu strains
can change year to year.

Bigad Shaban - CBS News