Centre for Policy on Ageing



Effectiveness of influenza vaccination policy at targeting patients at high risk of complications during winter 1994-5 — cross sectional survey
Author(s)	John Watkins
Journal title	British Medical Journal, vol 315, no 7115, 25 October 1997
Pages	pp 1069-1070 (BMJ Aging issue)
Keywords	Influenza ; At risk ; Immunisation ; Cross sectional surveys ; Gwent [1974-1996].
Annotation	The author reports on a survey of influenza vaccination at 64 general practices in Gwent. Uptake rates in specific at risk groups were calculated for practices that had recorded all immunisations. Analysis showed that under half of those patients identified as high risk and recommended for vaccination had received it: only 63% of patients with heart disease, 39% with diabetes, 41% with asthma, and only one in three of those over 75. Personal advice from the general practitioner (GP) or practice nurse during the vaccination period was the greatest stimulus to vaccine uptake. There was little evidence of practices planning their programmes, or targeting risk groups correctly. The author suggests that such an approach falls short of delivering an evidence based public health policy aimed at reducing a major cause of death.
Accession Number	CPA-971118415 A
Classmark	CJM: CA3: LLF: 3KB: 97 *
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.