Analysis
← vista completaPublished on November 19, 2013 | http://doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2013.10.5848
Is there bias in the current recommendations for influenza vaccine?
¿Hay sesgo en las recomendaciones actuales de vacunación antiinfluenza?
Abstract
Context. Influenza vaccine has been aggressively promoted and is currently recommended to practically the whole population, especially in some European Union countries and in the United States of America. Is there sound evidence to support this policy recommendation? Is this disease so serious and aggressive to merit the enormous expenditure associated with mass immunization? Aim. The article seeks to analyze the published evidence that supports the practically generalized recommendation of universal immunization for influenza. Analysis. The analysis of the evidence invoked to support this recommendation of mass flu vaccine shows that there are multiple types of bias present. Likewise, the evidence shows that the vaccine only has effects on flu symptoms. Conversely, adverse effects to the flu vaccine have been reported in Australia (febrile seizures in 1/110), Canada (people who got the flu shot in 2008 had increased risk of contracting H1N1 pandemic influenza in 2009), Sweden and Finland (one case of narcolepsy in 55,000). Conclusion. There is no solid evidence showing that influenza is a threat to public health, nor that the flu shot in any way reduces influenza complications and mortality.
