60 Years of Failing Flu Vaccines

Vaccination has long been deeply ingrained in the public consciousness as the most effective means to prevent a wide range of diseases. Public health campaigns and medical professionals have long advocated for the benefits of vaccination, emphasizing its critical role in safeguarding individual and community health. The influenza vaccine stands out as a prominent example among the many vaccines promoted over the years.

This vaccine has been continuously championed for decades, with efforts to encourage its uptake particularly vigorously during flu season. Nearly every drugstore and pharmacy offers the influenza vaccine, making it easily accessible to the public. This widespread availability reflects the importance placed on preventing influenza, a respiratory illness that can lead to severe health complications, especially in vulnerable populations. Through persistent promotion and education, the influenza vaccine has become a cornerstone of preventive healthcare, demonstrating the enduring value of vaccination in modern medicine.

But just how effective has the influenza vaccine been in practice? Have deaths from influenza declined due to this highly promoted annual vaccination? What do the statistics tell us about the vaccine’s impact on public health?

References:

Chapter B, Vital Statistics and Health and Medical Care, Vital Statistics, B 149–166, p. 58; Leading Causes of Death, 1900–1998, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/lead1900_98.pdf; Vital Statistics of the United States 1992 Volume II—Mortality Part A, U.S. De-partment of Health and Human Services, 1996, p. 12, various National Vital Statistics Reports 2001-2019; Impact of Influenza Vaccination on Seasonal Mortality in the US Elderly Population, Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 165, February 14, 2005; Flu Vaccination Coverage, United States, 2019–20 Influenza Season, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/coverage-1920estimates.htm; various CDC MMWR and other reports.

David M. Morens, Jeffery K. Taubenberger, and Anthony S. Fauci, “Rethinking next-generation vaccines for coronaviruses, influenza viruses, and other respiratory viruses,” Cell Host Microbe, January 11, 2023, https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(22)00572-8