A public health physician does a 180 on flu shots

The message from health officials is clear - get your flu shot. But Ontario public health physician Dr. Richard Schabas says he's done a 180 on calling for mass vaccinations, and now says we need to rethink our overall approach to influenza: "We've turned it into the great public health monster of our time, and we've turned influenza vaccine into the great public health saviour of our time, and I don't think either end lives up to its billing." 

Yes, the flu can be bad for the infirm, he says, but to everyone else, it's just a nuisance. He says there are serious questions about exactly how many people die from the flu, and even about the effect it has on the economy. While he says there's nothing wrong with getting the vaccination, Dr. Schabas cautions it's not nearly as effective as once thought. There's even new research that says it may be better to get it every few years, instead of annually.        

Dr. Schabas wants public health officials to make a few changes to the way they manage the flu. His recommendations? Focus on immunizing high risk patients, emphasize better surveillance of the flu (so we are prepared to deal with it as the season approaches), and be more open and honest about the effectiveness of the vaccine.