November 2008

Flu vaccine 'success' rate down to 44% in 2007

Last year, the flu vaccine was just 44% effective in protecting Americans against the flu. Given this, coupled with the increased awareness of the potential negative side effects of such drugs, one would expect the medical industry to rethink its attitude toward seasonal immunization.

Yet, since the global vaccine market is expected to top $23.8 billion by 2012, it really isn't surprising that medical authorities continue to urge people to get their shots of this vaccine.

"Despite the numbers from last year, a flu shot is still your best protection against the flu," said Dr. Jeff Kalina, associate medical director of emergency medicine at The Methodist Hospital in Houston. "Since the season starts in November, it's important to get a shot as soon as possible because it takes two weeks to take effect."

Pharmaceutical companies are justifiably worried about the decline in the effectiveness -- and popularity -- of vaccines for the flu and other illnesses.

According to a report released Oct. 3, 2008 by the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP), "While federal health authorities have labored to convince Americans to take the seasonal flu shot, millions of doses go unsold each year: 27 million of the 140 million made for the 2007-08 season, for instance, and 18 million of the 121 million made for the 2006-07 season. This year, 148 million doses are anticipated."

Faced with the possibility of having millions of vaccine doses left over at the end of the 2008 flu season, drug companies -- with the government's help -- stepped up their campaign to convince Americans that their health depends on taking the drug.

To address the problem, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) held a two-day National Influenza Vaccine Summit this May, attended by representatives of the five companies now selling flu vaccine in the United States.

During the meeting, participants discussed ways to increase vaccine use despite last year's low effectiveness rate. Among their suggestions was making sure medical doctors get more aggressive in "suggesting" that patients be vaccinated.

One participant, Dr. Andrew Eisenberg, a family physician told the group: "When the patient signs in, the lady who is taking their information asks, 'Have you had the flu vaccine this year?' and if the answer is 'No,' we say, 'Well, today you are getting it.'"

Such tactics, which clearly verge on coercion, are not being discouraged by the AMA or other medical organizations.

In addition, the drug and medical industries and the government are conducting late-season campaigns in hopes of getting the public to use up vaccine inventories before they go bad. Such campaigns have not been effective, according to CIDRAP.

"Americans have seemed to have no interest in end-of-year flu shots. Last year, for instance, the CDC and a number of other health organizations conducted public-information campaigns, including a post-Thanksgiving 'National Influenza Vaccination Week,' that urged late-season vaccination but did not affect shot use."

Another issue being raised by these questionable efforts to "use up" vaccines is that of informed consent.

As noted on the VaccineEthics.org website: "Because vaccination in the U.S. is viewed as routine, the discussion between physicians and parents about immunization is often truncated, if not lost. Though no replacement for a meaningful dialogue between health care providers and parents, information statements produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are required to be available to parents whose children are vaccinated."

That may be the "requirement," but in reality few parents are given any information whatsoever about the effectiveness or safety of any vaccines and it would be difficult to find anyone who has ever seen one of those information statements.

SOURCES: "Flu experts try to ensure record vaccine doses get used," Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy, May 13, 2008.

"Plant cancellation shows problems in flu vaccine business," Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy, Oct. 3, 2008.

"Don't Let Last Year's Missteps Keep You Away from Getting a Flu Shot This Year," Methodist Hospital, Houston, Oct. 8, 2008.

"Informed Consent in Vaccination," VaccineEthics.org.