How effective do flu shots need to be to be good for public health?

In the last Daily Briefing of the week, we explore how much medicine Americans take, surprising facts about pregnant women and the dangers of science.

Drugged: Spending on medicine went up in 2010, especially on generics, injectables and biologics. Find this and lots of interesting nuggets in a report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, "The Use of Medicines in the United States: Review of 2010" (PDF).

Pregnancy and Postpartum: In obstetrics and gynecology, causes of death are often thought of as hemorrage and infection. But a new study found that violent deaths -- homicide and suicide -- are actually more common causes. Andy Miller at Georgia Health News reports on the study and interviews the researcher who discusses these surprising findings.

59 Percent:  That's how effective the flu shot is in the United States, according to a University of Minnesota Study. But health officials in Arizona say that shouldn't stop people from getting the shot. "Fifty-nine percent is better than zero. It is still conferring some protection," Kacey Ernst, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Arizona's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Health, told Stephanie Innes at the Arizona Daily Star. Innes' report has also sparked interesting comments that show the mixed feelings and confusion about the flu shot among readers.

Go with your gut: For your Friday viewing, a Daily Show segment about the perils of the science conspiracy.

Want more reading for your weekend? Center for Health Journalism Digital is now on Tumblr, where we share members work and the best health journalism from around the web. Share your health news in comments.