tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066238290370557389.post6840700119347206111..comments2024-03-20T04:44:15.540-05:00Comments on Controversies in Hospital Infection Prevention: We’re doing it wrong—influenza vaccine editionDan Diekemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10231929371552334184noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066238290370557389.post-86212737149779985402013-02-24T09:26:59.767-06:002013-02-24T09:26:59.767-06:00What factors other than vaccination history separa...What factors other than vaccination history separate the vaccinated vs. unvaccinated subsets in that study? Are people who estimate their own exposure rate to be higher (teachers, hospital workers, people with families in grade school, etc) more likely to get the vaccination? <br /><br />Unless the vaccinate vs. unvaccinated samples are proper matched pairs based on potentially biasing factors, this study is unimpressive. It may well be that the sample was properly developed but normally one would mention something like that in the abstract. <br /><br />The "unexpected findings" actually look like there is no effect and that things are somewhat random. There are two kinds of explanations for when your data go all random: 1) The null hypothesis is not being challenged and/or 2) The study is bonkers. Which is the case here?<br /><br />Greg Ladenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04857616630819182647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066238290370557389.post-27900012064958362732013-02-22T21:07:08.578-06:002013-02-22T21:07:08.578-06:00I wonder how many hospitals and other healthcare f...I wonder how many hospitals and other healthcare facilities will change their policies? Will be interesting to see how this evidence is incorporated into vaccination programs. My guess is that the current influenza season will reinforce the authors' findings.<br /><br />Fascinating that sequential annual vaccination seemed to reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. <br /><br />Questions in need of answers: Does receiving influenza vaccine prevent severe illness, hospitalizations or deaths? <br /><br />The authors' case definition was "cough, fever or feverishness, nasal congestion, chills, headache, body aches or sore throat. This case definition was intended to facilitate collection of specimens from even mild illnesses" (Ohmit, et al., 2013). <br /><br />Reducing morbidity and mortality may still be good enough reasons to continue with an imperfect vaccine, albeit probably not as a mandate. <br /><br />Hope an improved vaccine comes soon. Mommarazzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17007217988599812661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8066238290370557389.post-72735382103187101572013-02-22T20:03:38.672-06:002013-02-22T20:03:38.672-06:00Good thing we're firing healthcare workers who...Good thing we're firing healthcare workers who are unvaccinated. We simply cannot tolerate people who won't take an ineffective vaccine.Mike Edmondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03722011490008008883noreply@blogger.com