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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| Effectiveness of influenza vaccine in the elderly | | Author(s) | K L Nichol, K L Margolis, J Wouremna |
| Journal title | Gerontology, vol 42, no 5, September - October 1996 |
| Pages | pp 274-279 |
| Keywords | Influenza ; Immunisation ; United States of America. |
| Annotation | In the United States (US), over 80% of deaths due to influenza (flu) and its complications occur among older people. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the US Public Health Service and others recommend that all persons aged 65 years and over receive annual influenza vaccination. Despite these recommendations 40% or more of high-risk persons fail to receive vaccination. Among barriers to successful immunisation efforts are persistent uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing morbidity and mortality associated with influenza. This study aimed to assess influenza vaccine effectiveness in reducing hospitalisation rates for influenza-associated complications, in reducing deaths from all causes, and in reducing hospitalisation costs among all older people enrolled in a large health maintenance organisation (HMO). Subjects were identified for each of three consecutive vaccination and subsequent influenza seasons for 1990-91 through 1992-93, resulting in over 25,000 older people in each of the three study cohorts. Findings showed that influenza vaccination is associated with reduced hospitalisations from complications, with fewer deaths, and with direct health care cost savings. (AKM). |
| Accession Number | CPA-980514216 A |
| Classmark | CJM: LLF: 7T |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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