Influenza Vaccine: Review of effectiveness of the US immunization program, and policy considerations.
“A number of studies have reported that influenza vaccine (IV) administration has been less than optimally effective in certain subpopulations. This study examines yearly influenza death rate, yearly influenza case rate, and yearly rate of hospitalizations with influenza as the first-listed discharge diagnosis. By these measures, the yearly U.S. mass influenza vaccination campaign has been ineffective in preventing influenza in vaccine recipients. The use of antiviral drugs to treat influenza, in light of the potential for an influenza pandemic, needs further consideration.”