Vaccination against influenza - a waste of taxpayers' money
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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According to scientists, vaccination against influenza is "a waste of taxpayers' money," and its benefits are too exaggerated.
Each year, an influenza vaccination campaign takes about 120 million pounds, but the protective properties of the drugs are exaggerated, especially in the health of older people, say scientists from the Center for Research and Policy on Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota.
Advocacy of the benefits and effectiveness of vaccinations is misleading the public. Experts fear that untruthful information regarding the efficiency of funds will lead to people simply disowning the need for vaccination and will not be vaccinated.
The annual huge monetary losses incurred by the state are the reason for the ineffectiveness of the vaccines already developed. No new developments are being made, and WHO predictions that determine which strains of influenza viruses should be included in the seasonal vaccination program are not true.
Tom Jefferson, a British epidemiologist, employee of the nonprofit organization The Cochrane Collaboration, says the government should be responsible for where taxpayer money goes.
The report of the Center for Research and Policy on Infectious Diseases notes that vaccination of the population in the UK can provide protection against influenza by 59% in people aged 18 to 64 years, but studies that prove the effectiveness of drugs among people older than 65 years It was.
State officials believe that vaccinating young people can save 2,000 lives a year.
"There is no doubt that an influenza vaccination program saves lives. We urge scientists and vaccine manufacturers to make every effort to develop new, more effective influenza vaccines and disagree with the statement that there is currently no need to vaccinate against influenza. Every year, thousands of people die from this disease, and we encourage those at risk to vaccinate and protect themselves, "the health department spokesman commented.