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Flu Vaccine Does Not Reduce Risk Of Death In The Elderly Will the anti-flu vaccine keep the elderly and the sick safe this winter? Doubt has been cast on the effectiveness of the flu jab in a recent study. It appears that the vaccine does not significantly reduce the number of deaths in the elderly according to research reported in The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.In a study conducted by the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health in Canada a group of 700 patients over 65 were monitored for the effects of influenza. Half of the group were given an anti-flu vaccine and half were not. The benefits to those in the group who received the vaccine were not considered statistically significant. The research also reveals that deaths and hospital admissions have not diminished in line with the increase of the elderly population receiving the vaccination over the past twenty years. It is possible the vaccine benefits have been overestimated, causing some patients to delay reporting symptoms in the false belief they are safe from flu. The researchers advised that the elderly and other vulnerable groups should still be vaccinated as these findings may prompt manufactures to develop more effective treatments. Everyone should also concentrate on reducing their flu risk by taking simple precautions such as good hand hygiene and avoiding sick children as well as reporting symptoms early ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn