More Effective Flu Shots Needed, Study Shows

Call me crazy, but in this day of government bailouts, perhaps some of that money could go for free flu vaccinations for those who choose to have one. Vote Rayman for president!

Seasonal flu shots prevent only about 59% of infections in adults — and that's not effective enough to protect people in a global outbreak, says a new analysis that may help accelerate research on an improved vaccine.

"Today's flu shot is like an iPhone 1.0," says study author Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota. "What we need is an iPhone 10.0."

H1N1 shots do slightly better than seasonal flu shots, preventing infection in 69% of adults under 65. Nasal sprays do even better, preventing infections in 83% of children under age 7, according to the analysis of previous studies, published online today in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. One study found that flu shots reduce hospitalizations by 8%. That's significant, however, given that the flu hospitalizes about 200,000 Americans a year.

via More effective flu shots needed, study shows - USATODAY.com.