Wisdom on Flu Vaccination Questioned

[熊哥]

Influenza has been oversold as a disease, and the most widely promoted preventive measure — vaccination — rests on shaky scientific foundations, according to a BMJ essay.

In an attack that could draw mention around water coolers, the author says much of the measured benefit of vaccination owes to "healthy user bias." That is, healthier people are most likely to get vaccinated. And, he says, the CDC acknowledges this bias in its guidelines document.

Scoffing at the idea that "now we are all 'at risk'" and needing to get vaccinated, the essayist notes that deaths due to influenza decreased rapidly in the U.S. starting in the mid-20th century, well before aggressive promotion of flu vaccination.

Asked to comment, Stephen Baum of Journal Watch Infectious Diseases wrote: "While the BMJ article raises questions about the relative efficacy of influenza vaccination, it seems clear that vaccination saves many lives. If I told you I could prevent even 20% of cases of a cancer with a nontoxic drug or vaccine, the world would be lining up to get it."

http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f3037