Giuseppe
Emeritus
Vaccine. 2008 Aug 20. [Epub ahead of print]
Decline in influenza-associated mortality among Dutch elderly following the introduction of a nationwide vaccination program.
Jansen AG, Sanders EA, Nichol KL, van Loon AM, Hoes AW, Hak E. - Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Paediatric Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
With a retrospective nationwide cohort study in the Netherlands over 1992-2003, using mortality and viral surveillance data, the aim was to assess by means of rate difference methods the influenza-associated mortality in the elderly before and after the introduction of a nationwide influenza vaccination program in 1996 (vaccination coverage raised from below 50 to 80%).
The average annual influenza-associated mortality declined in the years before and after the introduction from 131 to 105 per 100,000 persons (relative risk 0.80).
The decline was largest in the age group 65-69 years (relative risk 0.54) and less in those aged 75 years and older.
Validation by Serfling-type regression analysis revealed similar results.
In conclusion, routine influenza vaccination among Dutch elderly was associated with a significant decrease in influenza-associated mortality, notably in those aged 65-69 years.
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PMID: 18722492 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher
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Decline in influenza-associated mortality among Dutch elderly following the introduction of a nationwide vaccination program.
Jansen AG, Sanders EA, Nichol KL, van Loon AM, Hoes AW, Hak E. - Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Paediatric Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands.
With a retrospective nationwide cohort study in the Netherlands over 1992-2003, using mortality and viral surveillance data, the aim was to assess by means of rate difference methods the influenza-associated mortality in the elderly before and after the introduction of a nationwide influenza vaccination program in 1996 (vaccination coverage raised from below 50 to 80%).
The average annual influenza-associated mortality declined in the years before and after the introduction from 131 to 105 per 100,000 persons (relative risk 0.80).
The decline was largest in the age group 65-69 years (relative risk 0.54) and less in those aged 75 years and older.
Validation by Serfling-type regression analysis revealed similar results.
In conclusion, routine influenza vaccination among Dutch elderly was associated with a significant decrease in influenza-associated mortality, notably in those aged 65-69 years.
-
PMID: 18722492 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher
------