Should I get the flu shot this fall? When I am asked this question my reply generally is no.
There has been evidence published that indicates the flu vaccine is far less effective than originally thought. In people older than 65 years or older influenza vaccines reduced flu-like illnesses by no more than 23% in nursing homes. However, the vaccine did prevent 46% of pneumonia cases, which can be a complication of influenza.
However, outside nursing homes, immunizations didn’t cut the number of flu like illnesses or pneumonia. The reason for the ineffectiveness of the vaccines is only a minority of flu-like illnesses stem from influenza viruses.