A new Canadian-led study has added fuel to a simmering scientific dispute over flu-shot campaigns, revealing that immunizing nursing-home workers do nothing to reduce the number of confirmed influenza cases among the homes' elderly residents.

"What troubled us is that shots had no effect on laboratory-confirmed influenza," said Dr. Roger Thomas of the University of Calgary, lead author of the paper published by the respected Cochrane Library.

The scenario urgently calls for the review of previous studies, seeking stepped-up research into alternative, lower-tech methods to fight the virus, such as improved hand washing.

Dr. McGeer believed that the studies failed to accurately gauge the effect of vaccination on real laboratory-confirmed flu cases in nursing homes, as very few residents are tested.

He added that the results would possessed chances to pose a fall in confirmed flu cases had the labs examined specimens from everyone in the studies.

Government is reported to spent above $400-million for H1N1 pandemic vaccine for Canadians, while, the Ontario government alone spends nearly $23-million annually in providing seasonal-flu shots free to anyone who wants them.