Question:
If I am an adult with cancer of any age or elderly patients with other chronic disease (such as diabetes, heart failure, COPD, cancer) does getting a flu shot reduce my chances of dying from the flu more than not getting a flu shot?
Answer:
Yes
MedHead Confidence Score: 6
Amount Saved: $30,000 hospital stay cost for cardiac arrest
MedHead Message:
Actual difference in death rates of elderly with chronic disease is about 4.5% absolute reduction in risk of death over not being vaccinated. Other studies have shown a range of 25-45% relative risk reduction. The bottom line for you to know is that if you have cancer of any age or chronic disease over age 65, if 100 of you get a flu shot, and 100 of you do not, there will be about five people die who would not have if they had gotten the flu shot.
References:
1. Fireman, B. et. al. Influenza Vaccination and Mortality: Differentiating Vaccine Effects From Bias. American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 170, Issue 5, 1 September 2009, Pages 650–656. 2. Bitterman, R. Influenza vaccines in immunosuppressed adults with cancer.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Feb 1;2:CD008983 3.Kopsaftis Z, et. al. Influenza vaccine for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Jun 26;6:CD002733. 4. https://health.costhelper.com/cardiac-arrest-treatment-cost.html
