A campaign launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, in December, in the U. S. called ‘protect yourself and the ones you love against flu: GET VACCINATED!’ gathered a critical view by an epidemiologist.

The campaign was meant to encourage vulnerable patients, particularly the elderly, to get one flu-vaccine. Tom Jefferson, an epidemiologist with the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration, which has headquarters in Britain, state he did not agree with the campaign.

Jefferson and colleagues have published many systematic reviews of existing studies on the efficacy of influenza vaccines. By analyzing a data the team concluded that there was not enough evidence to support that infection rate and mortality was reduced by flu vaccines. Jefferson, a former British army doctor now based in Rome, stated that he wanted to spur further research into flu vaccines.

A government panel is recommending that every year all Americans get a flu shot. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend that except babies who were younger than six months and people with egg or other allergies, everyone else in the US should get a seasonal flu vaccination.