Flu Vaccine Doesn't Protect Seniors From Pneumonia

Flu vaccine may not protect older people from pneumonia once they get the disease, researchers report.

Older, frail adults are more susceptible to getting the flu, even if they have been vaccinated, and once getting the flu, they are more susceptible to such complications as pneumonia. It had been thought that flu vaccine would prevent flu -- and pneumonia -- across all groups of seniors, but this benefit appears to be largely confined to younger, healthier seniors.

"In seniors, flu vaccine was not linked to a reduced risk of pneumonia," said lead researcher Michael L. Jackson, a postdoctoral fellow at the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle.

Jackson still recommends that seniors get flu vaccine, however. "There have been good randomized trials that show, at least in healthy seniors, that the vaccine reduces the risk of influenza," he said. "However, earlier studies have overestimated how well the vaccine works in reducing complications of influenza. So, the vaccine may not reduce the risk of complications as much as previously thought," he said.

Among young healthy seniors, the vaccine reduces the risk of flu, Jackson said. "When you look at the total population of seniors, which includes people over 75 and people that have chronic health diseases -- lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, and things like that -- we don't know if the vaccine is effective in the seniors," he said. "People with these chronic diseases are more susceptible to getting the flu, and they are more likely to develop pneumonia if they do get influenza."

The report is published in the Aug. 2 issue of The Lancet.

For the study, Jackson's team collected data on 1,173 people between the ages of 65 and 94 who developed pneumonia They compared these individuals with 2,346 people who did not get pneumonia. Both groups had similar rates of flu vaccination over the three seasons of studies, the researchers say.

The researchers found that vaccinated seniors who got the flu were as likely to develop pneumonia as unvaccinated seniors who got the flu.

Dr. Pascal James Imperato, dean of the master of public health program at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in New York City, was not surprised by these results.

"We know that elderly people do not form sufficient antibodies to certain vaccines, the flu vaccine included," Imperato said. "In addition, people in their 70s and 80s and 90s are more prone to pneumonia with or without influence. A number of these pneumonias may be secondary to other causes aside from influenza."

Even though many of the elderly will not develop sufficient antibodies to the flu vaccine, getting the shot is still worthwhile, Imperato said. "Having many people vaccinated builds up a herd immunity to disease, and you create barriers to transmission," he added.

Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, said the results of this study fly in the face of prevailing wisdom.

Siegel noted that 36,000 people in the United States die each year from the flu. "Over 90 percent of them are elderly," he said. "We give the flu shot primarily to prevent elderly deaths.

The effectiveness of the flu vaccine varies year to year, however, depending on how good a match it is for the circulating strains of influence. "In the best years, the flu vaccine is really only 40 to 60 percent effective," Siegel added.

In addition, Siegel thinks that the flu vaccine protects against other complication including respiratory diseases, which can also be fatal. "There are plenty of flu-related complications that are life-threatening besides pneumonia," he said.

"This study is a reminder that flu vaccines are not a panacea, but they are valuable, because they cut down on the incidence of influenza," Siegel said. "Flu shots definitely cut down on the number of flu-related deaths."

More information

For more about seasonal flu vaccine, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New information on pneumonia treatment and prevention

by Groshan Fabiola

Surgery If pneumonia gets complicated with empyema, abscess, then one might need surgical procedures such as: thoracotomy, thoracentesis. Chest tubes are needed to drain the infected fluid, they remain in place for 1-3 days and may perforate the diaphragm and accidentally injure the lung.

Pneumonia prevention

Avoid and treat colds and influenza as soon as possible and as efficiently as possible. Maintain a good hygiene of your hands, have a rich diet in dark-colored fruits and vegetables and fresh food, have an active socially life, take different zinc preparations because studies have shown that zinc has substantial benefits against colds, flus, allergies, pneumonia. Zinc has good effects on the inflammatory response and immune system, its action is unknownb but its effects are clear.

Side efeects included are: dry mouth, constipation, bad taste, in case of superdosage vomiting, dehydration, and restlessness address as quickly as possible a physician. Zinc may also produce allergies and interact with other medication, it reduces the absorption of certain antibiotics. Zinc absorption is reduced by high amounts of calcium or phosphorus. And if taken for a long time zinc causes copper deficiencies.

Vitamin C Studies have shown that flu, cold are reduced by large doses of vitamin C. Vitamin C appears to have preventive effects and helps the infection to be cured more rapidly. But taking high doses of vitamin C determins headaches and intestinal and urinary problems and even kidney stones. Increases iron absorption so people with blood disorders shouldn't take large doses of vitamin C.

Echinacea is a herbal remedy that prevents the onset and symptoms of a flu. But it hasn't been determined exactly which type of Echinacea is usefull and if the whole plant or only the roots and herb are effective. What you should watch aut when taking Echinacea is that there may appear allergic reactions such as: erythema nodosum with muscle and joint aches, and sore throat and fever. You shouldn't take natural remedy without the doctor's approuval. Vaccines for Haemophilus Influenzae All children should be vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae, especially those under five years.

Pneumococcal Vaccines People of all ages should be given pneumococcal vaccines to prevent flus and pneumonia. It has been demonstrated that this vaccine protects children in day care from serious respiratory infections. Those with high risk at the administration of the vaccine are: children with sickle-cell disease, adults or children who have immune deficiencies, patients with kidney disease or kidney transplants, patients with splin problems, alcoholics. Sometimes the vaccine protection lasts for over six years.

Antiviral Agents are used to treat and prevent influenza A, B. Amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine) are M2 inhibitors. They have the following benefits: offer protection against influenza A and prevent severe illness, lessen the severity of the flu but they may cause nausea, vomiting, and indigestion.

Neuraminidase Inhibitors such as: Zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are designed to block a key viral enzyme, neuraminidase, which is involved with viral replication. So, they are effective for treating and preventing A and B strains of influenza, they may even help reduce transmission of the virus, they may reduce complications of influenza.

About the Author
You can find great content regarding pneumonia causes, pneumonia symptoms and many moreby visiting http://www.pneumonia-center.com/

Preventing Pneumonia By Understanding The Causes

by Ethan Armitage

Before the discovery of antibiotics, pneumonia was one of the leading causes of death among humans. Nowadays, it can be easily be cured with only a few pills prescribed by a doctor. However, this condition is hard to prevent so it can still create problems for many people. It is important for people to understand what causes this condition in order to avoid it.

Pneumonia is an infection of the tissues from one or both lungs, caused by bacteria or viruses. This condition is contagious because it spreads through the air we breathe, thus making it difficult to avoid. Also, the microorganisms that cause this condition can be found in food and drink.

The first symptoms of are intense coughing and sneezing. Through coughing and sneezing, a very large number of viruses are spread in the air on a large area. What can be done in this case is to cover your mouth and try not to breathe that air or ask the person who sneezed or coughed to cover his or her nose or moth.

The most often met bacteria that cause pneumonia are streptococcus, staphylococcus and haemophilus.

Pneumonia can be acquired at any time and by anyone in the daily duties, at work, at school or at shopping. Yet, a higher risk of exposure to pneumonia is represented by hospitals or exposure to certain chemicals, poison or smoke.

The risks are increased for those people that smoke, drink alcohol, use drugs, have an impaired immune system or are older than 60 years. Pneumonia can also be fatal to those that already suffer from another condition that damages the defense mechanism of the human body.

Because pneumonia can be contacted anywhere in the daily life, it is best to avoid infected people and consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear and don't respond to normal medications. If the condition is discovered in its early stages, it can easily be cured with antibiotics and won't require hospitalization or home resting.


About the Author
Learn the pneumonia symptoms for a diagnosis of pneumonia , good walking pneumonia overview available.