The flu shot may not be the magic bullet against influenza everyone hopes it is. Two new studies call into question the effectiveness of flu vaccinations for the elderly, as well as the use of the antiviral drug Amantadine, which is used to treat people who are already infected.

In the first study, researchers found that vaccinations offer only modest benefits for seniors living in the general community. “In this population, the vaccines are apparently ineffective in the prevention of influenza, influenza-like illness, pneumonia, hospital admissions, or deaths from any respiratory disease,” the researchers write, adding that vaccines still help prevent hospital admissions related specifically to the flu or pneumonia and help lower the overall death rate from all causes.

However, vaccines offer more protection for seniors living in long-term care facilities. While these vaccinated seniors can still get the flu, they are protected from flu complications such as pneumonia and hospital admissions, and from death from flu and other causes.

The difference invaccine effectiveness between the two groups may arise, in part, because people in the general community are exposed to numerous other pathogens that can cause influenza-like illnesses.

So while vaccinations in resting homes should continue, agencies need to develop a more comprehensive approach to flu prevention, rather than just a ‘get the flu shot’ approach, the researchers say.

The second recent study found that more influenza viruses are becoming impervious to the only existing class of inexpensive antiviral drugs. Resistance to the drug Amantadine rose from a scant 0.4 percent of viruses in 1994–1995 to 12.3 percent in 2003–2004 (the researchers examined viruses from two particular types of influenza).

The researchers suggest that doctors need to reexamine the frequency with which they prescribe antiviral drugs to minimize resistance toward them. The findings also underscore the importance of tracking drug-resistant strains. For those of us just wanting to avoid the flu, following mom’s advice to wash our hands frequently may be our best bet. [See page 99 of the October 2005 issue of Alternative Medicine for a story on flu shot alternatives.]

—Kristin Bjornsen