For instance, a report in the Cochrane Library states there is no evidence that vaccinating health-care workers prevents flu or its complications ( such as death due to lower respiratory tract infection) in individuals aged 60 or over. There is no evidence of a pressing need to institute compulsory vaccination of health-care workers caring for those 60 and over.
The Globe and Mail reports Dr. Michael Gardam, director of
infection prevention and control at the University Health Network in
Toronto, thinks the growing trend
toward mandating flu shots to health-care workers is a bad idea.
It turns out that the evidence in favour of mandatory vaccination policies is far from conclusive.
Just for the record, I personally like the flu shot. I get mine annually and as early as possible. I have heart and lung problems. I don't feel like sitting on the fence waiting for the definitive answer. If the shot doesn't help me, I am not worried that it may hurt me. In all the years that I have had the shot, I have never had a bad reaction and, it may be coincidence, but I have not had a serious bout of flu either.
This post is not an attack on the flu shot. I simply believe newspapers should strive to be more balanced.