Editor,
In the November 2014 issue of Current in Fishers, there was an article titled “Is the flu vaccine safe?” It referenced sources from Johns Hopkins with reasons doctors are against the vaccine. I cannot substantiate that data via the Johns Hopkins website. Further, the article references a publication made by a Johns Hopkins Ph.D. named Peter Doshi. If you search the Johns Hopkins doctors directory, this name is not found on the staff at Johns Hopkins. The reference to the article I found published by this (former) employee and postdoctoral fellow was published May 16, 2013 (Influenza: marketing vaccine by marketing disease, BMJ2013; 346 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f3037(Published 16 May 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;346:f3037).
Johns Hopkins’ website promotes the flu vaccine and requires it for all of its employees (which may be why he wrote this editorial article?). I do not think the Fishers’ Current article accurately captured and represented Johns Hopkins position on flu vaccination. I appreciate the position and quote from the local area doctor, however I feel this article was slanted rather negatively toward the flu vaccine and nowhere have I read that doctors in general think the vaccine is being promoted based on profit rather than for the general welfare of people. Doshi’s article has been paraphrased all over by various anti-vaccine websites.
Why not quote the top of the CDC page regarding the flu for this season:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
The most recent FluView report for the 2014-2015 flu season shows that flu activity is low across the United States, but there are early signs that activity is increasing, including the first reported pediatric flu death this season. Flu activity is expected to increase in the coming weeks. CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. There are documented benefits from flu vaccination, including reductions in flu illnesses, related doctors’ visits and missed work or school. Vaccination also prevents flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.
Lisa Ferguson
Fishers 46038