The number of Italians using
influenza vaccines has tumbled by 6% in as little as 5 years due
to false alarms worrying the elderly, the Higher Health
Institute said Monday.
As many as 68.3% of people over the age of 65 had flu
vaccines in the years 2005-2006 but only 55.4% did so in
2013-2014 and just 48.6% in 2014-2015.
"The cause of the negative trend is due in part to false
alarms linked to presumed damage to the vaccine or impurities
present in some batches," said Walter Ricciardi, president of
the Higher Health Institute."
"None of these alarms have been confirmed. On the contrary
there are several studies that show a protective effect of the
vaccine, both for children aged from 6 months to 2 as well as in
people at risk of complications".
The vaccine also reduces the risk of heart attacks, as
shown by experimental studies and observation carried out in
different population groups, he added.
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