If you read through the package inserts for the injectable, inactivated flu vaccines, you will find the following paragraph:

"Specific levels of HI antibody titers post-vaccination with inactivated influenza virus vaccine have not been correlated with protection from influenza virus. In some human studies, antibody titers of 1:40 or greater have been associated with protection from influenza illness in up to 50% of subjects."

What that paragraph explains is that, to the best of our knowledge, the vaccine only works in half, or less, of those individuals who attain the specified level of seroconversion after vaccination.

The FDA defines seroconversion as achieving an antibody titer of 1:40.

This means that if a vaccine was 100 percent effective at achieving this level of seroconversion, it would protect up to 50 percent of the recipients of the vaccine.

But none of the vaccines are 100 percent effective at achieving seroconversion.

CSL's vaccine insert, for example, states that their H1N1 vaccine provides seroconversion for:



48.7 percent of people aged 18-65


34 percent for seniors, 65 and older

That means that, at best, their vaccine produces antibody levels in one out of every four people!

Which, of course, means that the vaccine does NOT work in three out of every four people…

Is a 25 percent chance of reaping any sort of benefit worth the risk?

For a mild, over-hyped illness?

Nope.