Yearly flu shots significantly reduce deaths from all causes in people 65 and older, Dutch researchers found. The shots have been recommended for people 65 and older since the 1960's and for those 50 and older since 2000, but there has been little evidence about the effectiveness of national programs recommending repeat vaccinations, which is what prompted the Dutch study. Dr. A. C. G. Voordouw at Erasmus University in Rotterdam and colleagues analyzed the effectiveness of the Netherlands' vaccine program using data on 26,071 residents 65 and older from 1996 through 2002. Compared with those who were not vaccinated, those who had any flu shots were 22 percent less likely to die of any cause during the period studied. Compared with people who got just one shot, those who were vaccinated annually were 15 percent less likely to die of any cause - and 28 percent less likely to die during seasons when flu reached epidemic levels.