Study Shows Flu Vaccine Does Not Protect Against Pneumonia

Washington (dbTechno) - Researchers have come out and stated that the flue vaccine may not actually protect elderly people from pneumonia.

For the study, a team of researchers led by Michael L. Jackson of the Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle collected data from 1,173 people between the ages of 65 and 94.

All of these elderly people had already developed pneumonia, as it aimed to test the effectiveness of the flu vaccine.

They then compared their data to over 2,300 people who did not get pneumonia.

Over the three seasons that the study was carried out, all of those involved in the group were on the same flu vaccination schedule.

What researchers found was that the elderly people who received the flu vaccine were just as likely to develop pneumonia compared to the elderly who did not receive the flu vaccine, and developed the flu.

This has not stopped researchers from stating though that the flu vaccine is still very helpful, as it will build up immunity to the disease over time, blocking transmission of it.

Flu shots do cut down on the number of flu-related deaths, but they may not be as effective as once believed.

The study has been published in the journal The Lancet.