Recently I shared my thoughts on the flu. These thoughts are not simply opinions but are directly formulated based upon hard scientific data and are not influenced by the emotions and fears that often accompany a discussion of serious diseases.

As expected, a recent blog of mine disturb some “pro-flu vaccine” folks. A local veterinarian even called my office and told my receptionist that he wanted to talk to me so he could “set me straight” about the flu.

Well, I didn’t bother calling him back as I really don’t need to be “set straight” about anything. The facts speak for themselves and all I can do is address the facts.

Here are some of the things that seemed most upsetting to him.

First I mentioned that the flu is not really that big of a problem for most people or pets. Most people and pets will not be exposed to the flu. Of those who are, most have healthy immune systems and will never contract the disease. Of those few who contract the disease, most will fight it off due to their healthy immune systems.

A very few number of people and dogs will get sick with the flu, and even smaller numbers of people and pets will need to be hospitalized due to the flu (or typically due to complications from the flu, namely secondary infections.) A VERY RARE number of patients will die from the flu (or more correctly, die from complications from the flu.)

Taking these facts into consideration, it therefore makes sense that most people and pets would not benefit from a flu vaccine.

The second thing I mentioned which really upset my colleague is that many doctors and veterinarians seem to jump on the latest vaccine bandwagon either out of fear or to increase their incomes.

What’s my proof?

Once again let’s look at the facts. The sales reps of the companies who manufacture the vaccines try to convince doctors that the flu is a horrible disease that will affect and kill millions of people and pets. The only solution is to vaccinate all of their patients. By causing fear, they encourage doctors to consider using the vaccine in their practices.

Sales reps also present economic models for profits that can be obtained by using vaccine. For example, if I vaccinated all of the dogs in my practice with the recommended number of canine flu vaccines, I could easily make $100,000 this year from vaccinating dogs against a flu virus that is unlikely to ever cause a problem in my practice!

While I’m not suggesting that all veterinarians who use vaccines do it purely from an economic perspective, it is tempting to draw that conclusion when an unnecessary vaccine is given to large numbers of pets knowing that large profits will be obtained.

I’m also not suggesting that no person or pet ever get a flu vaccine, only that we make rational decisions when vaccines are needed. For my practice, none of my patients currently require a flu vaccine. While I hate the idea of losing $100,000 in easy profits this year (some of which could be spent hiring more employees and reducing the staggering unemployment rate in our country,) I can’t morally justify doing a procedure which has no medical benefit to my patients.

I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you or your family members and pets would benefit from a flu vaccine, or whether you would benefit more keeping the money spent on what might be an unnecessary vaccine to spend on something better.

Contributed by Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM