Flu Vaccine Not Effective In Protecting Elderly From Pneumonia

August 1, 2008

Washington (ChattahBox) - Researchers have come out and state dthat they have found that the flu vaccine does not actually protect elderly people from pneumonia.

Researchers were led by Michael L. Jackson of the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle.

For the study, they collected data from 1,173 people between the ages of 65 and 94 with pnuemonia, and over 2,300 people without.

They were all elderly people up to the age of 94-years old.

Researchers found that the elderly people who received the flu vaccine were just as likely to develop pneumonia when compared to elderly who did not receive the flu vaccine, and caught the flu.

Researchers have stressed though that this does not mean the elderly should not get the flu vaccine, as it still does help with the build up of immunity over time.

The flu vaccine has also been proven to help reduce the number of flu-related deaths. The study has been published in the journal The Lancet.

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