OF THE
TIMES
It seems that all articles on the flu end with a pitch to get the flu shot. What this article failed to mention, however, is that the researchers found that viral shedding of flu virus was higher in study participants who'd had the current and previous year's vaccines. In other words, flu shots spread the flu!Self-reported vaccination for the current season was associated with a trend (P < 0.10) toward higher viral shedding in fine-aerosol samples; vaccination with both the current and previous year's seasonal vaccines, however, was significantly associated with greater fine-aerosol shedding in unadjusted and adjusted models (P < 0.01). In adjusted models, we observed 6.3 (95% CI 1.9-21.5) times more aerosol shedding among cases with vaccination in the current and previous season compared with having no vaccination in those two seasons. Vaccination was not associated with coarse-aerosol or NP shedding (P > 0.10). The association of vaccination and shedding was significant for influenza A (P = 0.03) but not for influenza B (P = 0.83) infections.And from the acknowledgment section of the study:
...
The association of current and prior year vaccination with increased shedding of influenza A might lead one to speculate that certain types of prior immunity promote lung inflammation, airway closure, and aerosol generation. This first observation of the phenomenon needs confirmation. If confirmed, this observation, together with recent literature suggesting reduced protection with annual vaccination, would have implications for influenza vaccination recommendations and policies.This work was funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement 1U01P000497 and by NIH Grant 5RC1AI086900. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the funding agency.Certainly not. The CDC wouldn't want the public to know that flu shots spread flu.
How about a dessicated influenza virus... Meh, Nyquil, Theraflu and Tylenol sales need a boost. Also flu shots could use some help.
When I got sick this year, it came from not another person, but straight out of the atmosphere. Started with nose/sinus for a few weeks and morphed into flu like for a few days, now its back to nose congestion and holding...