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Why Influenza Vaccine Mandates are Ineffective & Unwise Public Policy
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From 2001 to 2007 less than 200 vaccine injury claims were filed with the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).  By 2010 reported claims have almost tripled, with the increase in claims largely due to adult influenza vaccine injury claims.[1]
 
WHAT RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES…
  • Influenza viruses constantly evolve and, depending upon the year, the flu shot may or may not match strains associated with reported influenza cases;[2]
  • The influenza vaccine is less than 70 percent effective in preventing influenza,[3] and like all pharmaceutical products, use of influenza vaccine is not without risk of vaccine injury;[4]
  • Influenza rarely kills healthy people under age 65 and 5 to 20 percent of Americans may experience type A or type B influenza in an average flu season[5], with the majority having uncomplicated cases. The natural immunity developed from influenza protects people during future influenza outbreaks;[6]
  • Over 200 viruses cause influenza and influenza-like illness and can produce similar symptoms. It is estimated that 80% of flu-like illness reported during the “flu season” is not caused by influenza.[7]  Some researchers estimate that, at best, vaccines might be effective against only influenza A and B, which represent about 10% of all circulating viruses.[8]
  • Most influenza studies are poorly designed and have failed to demonstrate that influenza vaccine is effective or safe;[9] [10]
  • Out of 308 million Americans, CDC estimates that about 12,000 deaths were associated with influenza in 2009, a pandemic year;[11] 
  • Influenza-related deaths usually involve bacterial pneumonia complications, which rarely occur in healthy children and adults;[12]
  • Influenza transmission can be prevented or reduced in home and health care settings with hand washing, masking, and separating sick and healthy persons;[13] [14]
WHY MANDATES WON’T WORK…
  • Surveys reveal that 60-70% of Americans do not want to get a flu shot even in pandemic years[15] [16] and more than 50% of American parents are concerned about vaccine safety in general;[17]
  • Studies reveal that 60% of health care professionals do not want to get influenza shots and are concerned about the vaccine’s ineffectiveness and side effects;[18]
  • Threatening and forcing Americans to get vaccinated, including firing health care workers who refuse flu shots,[19]will further erode public trust in vaccines and public health policies;[20] [21] [22]
  • The tax dollars spent to purchase, distribute and enforce use of flu shots will guarantee big profits for drug companies but will not guarantee a healthier population;[23] [24] [25]
NVIC’S POSITION:
One size-fits-all vaccine mandates do not recognize biodiversity and the fact that individuals have unique biological and genetic factors that can make them more or less susceptible to suffering a vaccine reaction, injury or death. NVIC does not advocate for or against use of vaccines but defends the ethical principle of informed consent to medical risk-taking, including the right for all Americans to make informed, voluntary decisions about vaccination for themselves or their children.[26] We maintain that every individual has the human right to be informed about the risks and complications associated with infectious diseases and vaccines and make a voluntary decision about whether or not to use every government recommended vaccine, a few vaccines or no vaccines at all.
  
References
[1] Minutes – Federal Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV), March 3-4, 2011
[2] Fisher BL. 2004. Flu Vaccine: Missing the Mark. The Vaccine Reaction (National Vaccine Information Center).
[3] Osterholm M, Kelley N, Sommer A, Belongia E, Efficacy and Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccines: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Early Online Publication, 26 October 2011, doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70295-X
[5] Centers for Disease Control. Seasonal Influenza.
[6] Simonsen L., Clarke MJ et al. 1998. Pandemic versus Epidemic Influenza Mortality: A Pattern of Changing Age Distribution. Journal of Infectious Diseases.
[7] FDA. Feb. 20, 2003. Vaccines & Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting Transcript.
[8] Jefferson T, Di Pietrantonj C, Rivetti A, Bawazeer GA, Al-Ansary LA, Ferroni E. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD001269. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub4.
[9] Jefferson T. 2006. Influenza vaccination: policy versus evidence. British Medical Journal.
[13] Enstone J. 2010. Influenza transmission and related infection control issues. Introduction to Pandemic Influenza (pp. 57-72). CABI.
[16] Centers for Disease Control. 2010. Interim Results: State-Specific Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine Coverage – US. Oct. 2009 – Jan. 2010. MMWR.
[17] Freed GL, Clark SJ. 2010. Parental Vaccine Safety Concerns in 2009. Pediatrics.
[18] King WD, Woolhandler SJ et al. 2006. Influenza Vaccination and Health Care Workers in the U.S. Journal of General Internal Medicine.
[20] ACLU. 2009. NYCLU Urges Public Education and Voluntary Vaccine for H1N1 Flu, Warns Vaccine Mandate Violates Privacy Rights. Testimony by Donna Lieberman.
[21] Sullivan PL. 2010. Influenza Vaccination in Healthcare Workers: Should It Be Mandatory? Journal of Issues in Nursing.
[23] Glorikan H. 2009. Influenza Scare Not the Only Vaccine Driver. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News.
[24] Kresse H, Rovini H. 2009. Influenza Vaccine Market Dynamics. Nature Reviews.
[25] HealthCare Finance News. 2010. Global vaccine market now exceeds $20B.
[26] Fisher BL – President and Co-Founder NVIC, The Moral Right to Conscientious, Philosophical and Personal Belief Exemption to Vaccination, Presented to National Vaccine Advisory Committee - May 2, 1997
 
 

 
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