Yearly Vaccine question

Medical Q&A [Moderated]
1

I just listened to the podcast about the Covid-19 vaccine. No one asked about the vaccines that are given each year for the flu.

I have heard that these vaccines are created each year when it is guessed what three viruses will occur during the flu season. So there is no Double-Blind Placebo-controlled study done on these. They are not always correct in their guess. I this correct and if so why should we trust those.

2

If you seek out the evidence, you will find that there are piles of placebo-controlled trials of influenza vaccines demonstrating efficacy and benefits that outweigh risks. The annual process and vaccine composition is the same each year, just substituting different antigens based on the expected strain(s) of seasonal flu.

1 Like