Reason for optimism

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year.1 Such confidence in influenza vaccines seems misplaced for two reasons. Firstly, if CDC viral surveillance data are correct, then in recent years true influ...

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Main Author: Doshi, Peter
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society
Format: Other
Language:en_US
Published: British Medical Association 2010
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/50637
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author Doshi, Peter
author2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society
author_facet Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society
Doshi, Peter
author_sort Doshi, Peter
collection MIT
description The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year.1 Such confidence in influenza vaccines seems misplaced for two reasons. Firstly, if CDC viral surveillance data are correct, then in recent years true influenza viruses have caused an average of only 12% of influenza-like illness2 (the syndrome the public thinks of as "flu" and, most critically, the syndrome the public is trying to avoid). Since influenza vaccine does not work against non-influenza viruses,3 how can the agency responsibly claim vaccines are the best way to prevent seasonal flu?
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spelling mit-1721.1/506372022-09-26T11:48:38Z Reason for optimism Doshi, Peter Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society Doshi, Peter Doshi, Peter The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims that the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year.1 Such confidence in influenza vaccines seems misplaced for two reasons. Firstly, if CDC viral surveillance data are correct, then in recent years true influenza viruses have caused an average of only 12% of influenza-like illness2 (the syndrome the public thinks of as "flu" and, most critically, the syndrome the public is trying to avoid). Since influenza vaccine does not work against non-influenza viruses,3 how can the agency responsibly claim vaccines are the best way to prevent seasonal flu? 2010-01-08T18:25:22Z 2010-01-08T18:25:22Z 2008-01 Other http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalItem http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/50637 Doshi, Peter. “Reason for optimism.” BMJ 336.7637 (2008): 172-. 18219007 en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39465.484421.3A British Medical Journal Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf British Medical Association Peter Doshi
spellingShingle Doshi, Peter
Reason for optimism
title Reason for optimism
title_full Reason for optimism
title_fullStr Reason for optimism
title_full_unstemmed Reason for optimism
title_short Reason for optimism
title_sort reason for optimism
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/50637
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