Flu vaccine may not be effective at staving off pneumonia among the very elderly, according to a new report.

Fewer than a quarter (23%) of all nursing homes have a plan for dealing with a massive flu outbreak, according to a new study. About 25% had a pandemic response as part of a broader overall disaster plan.

A set of "simple" and "workable" non-pharmacological interventions that staff members could easily implement may be within nursing home operators' grasp for battling a pandemic flu outbreak, researchers say.

After last season's flu vaccine struggles, the top five vaccine manufacturers have announced plans to produce a record number of doses - more than 143 million for the 2008-2009 season.

A higher dose of a flu vaccine has been shown to significantly improve the immune system's response to the actual virus, especially among the elderly, researchers told the American Geriatrics Society at the Annual Scientific Meeting earlier this month.

If you thought this last flu season was bad, you may be in for a shock. Experts from the World Health Organization said this week that the threat of a global influenza outbreak is as real as ever, despite advances in flu vaccinations and epidemiology.

The "very elderly" likely won't receive life-saving treatment in the event of a pandemic emergency, a new report states.

Thankfully, it's safe to put away the Kleenex and the Nyquil. The flu season is winding to a close - and it goes down as the worst in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Food and Drug Administration has decided to reformulate next year's flu vaccine to protect against three new and different strains. Such a dramatic move could pose a major challenge for vaccine flu makers, experts said.

This season's flu vaccine may not offer as much protection against infection as it has in years past, according to a published report.