Flu Vaccine for Elderly reduces risk of death

According to a study by Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Elderly people admitted to intensive care units that have been given the flu vaccine are at less risk of dying, suffering a blood clot or bleeding on the brain.

The study covered 89,818 patients in Denmark from 2005-2015 who had survived hospitalisation in intensive care units. Results showed that those vaccinated were 16% less at risk of suffering a stroke and had an 8% lower chance of dying following their hospitalisation, but the vaccination didn’t reduce the number of pneumonia cases in the study. Previous cases on younger and healthy individuals showed a reduction in pneumonia cases so this was surprising.

Christian Fynbo Christiansen, clinical associate professor at Aarhus University Hospital and consultant at Aarhus University Hospital commented on the results “With 30,00 people admitted to intensive care unit each year, our study shows that patients who have been vaccinated against influenza results in fewer deaths and serious complications among patients. These results support the current recommendation that the elderly should be vaccinated.”