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Study Finds Flu Shots Did Not Affect Alpha-1 Exacerbations
A study of flu vaccation in Alpha-1 patients published this month in CHEST, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, found no significant impact of the vaccination on disease exacerbations and other respiratory outcomes.
The study, conducted with 939 Alphas during the 2003 to 2004 influenza season, found that more than 80 percent of them had the flu shot. The investigators included Adam Wanner, MD, FCCP, Scientific Director of the Alpha-1 Foundation, and Robert A. Sandhaus, MD, FCCP, Clinical Director of the Foundation.
Asked to comment on the results, Dr. Sandhaus said Alphas should still get their flu shots: “There are other reasons for Alphas to continue to receive flu shots, not the least of which is to prevent getting influenza!”
