Annual jabs protect over-65s from worst virus
OLDER people who have regular flu jabs are less likely to suffer bouts of the virus that leave them needing hospital care, a study reveals.
As the NHS is swamped by the flu crisis, scientists found that, while the vaccine may not stop over-65s catching flu, repeated yearly jabs do give protection against severity.
The study of 700 older people over four years found that flu jabs cut hospital admissions by 31 per cent.
Severe cases needing intensive care fell by 75 per cent in people who had had more than one jab and there were 70 per cent fewer deaths.
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But vaccination in the current season only gave no protection against severe and fatal flu, the study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found.
Dr Jesus Castilla, of the institute of public health in Pamplona, Spain, said: “Repeated vaccination for influenza was highly effective in preventing severe and fatal infection caused by influenza in older adults.”
UK hospital admissions for flu almost tripled in the last week of 2017, Public Health England said.
