In October 1976, a nationwide vaccination program was started against swine flu.

Question

In October 1976, a nationwide vaccination program was started against swine flu. The first shots were given to the group most at risk: the elderly and infirm. During the first week of the program, 24,000 people aged 65 and over were given shots, and 3 of these people died. As a result, eight states suspended the vaccination program. (a) Thinking about this situation from the point of view of experimental design, identify the treatment and response variables, and specify whether this was a controlled experiment, an observational study, or neither. (b) Does the suspension of the vaccination program seem like a wise decision? Explain briefly, and describe a stronger experimental design that would have led to better public-health decision-making in this case.

Explanation / Answer

Answers

a) It is only an observational study, but not a controlled experiment because the exercise has not provided for control group. It is quite possible that more number of people would have died if no vaccination shots were given.

b) To make it a stronger experimental design, it would be desirable to have a control group of an equal number or a fairly close number of people who are very similar to the group of 24000 in terms of swine flu risk and observed for identical period without giving them the vaccination. Then, the results of the experiment are statistically comparable and conclusions drawn there-from are reliable.

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