Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine in Health-care Workers

Abstract

We examined the effectiveness of trivalent influenza vaccine in reducing illness, absenteeism, and health care use among health-care workers (HCW) of Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital from December 1999 through March 2000. In recipients of vaccine (n = 132), the numbers of febrile illness, severe illness, febrile upper respiratory tract illness were significantly reduced compared with HCW without vaccination (n = 595). Use of prescription antibiotics and over-the-counter medications was also reduced. Influenza vaccine also reduced the reported days of work absence. These data support a policy of annual influenza vaccination of HCW.

Evaluation of influenza vaccination in health-care workers, using rapid antigen detection test

“…Saxén and Virtanen, 7 in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, showed that vaccination significantly reduced absenteeism related to respiratory infection. Nishi et al 2 and Susa et al 3 showed that influenza vaccine was effective in preventing influenzalike illness and reducing absenteeism. Harada et al 4 and Tomii et al 5 also showed vaccine efficacy in preventing febrile episodes.…”

“…1 In Japan, however, there have been few studies to assess the vaccine efficacy in HCWs, and all the studies were based on clinical diagnoses. [2][3][4][5] However, influenza-like illness is not always influenza, and may include other febrile respiratory illness, whereas a rapid antigen detection kit for influenza shows a positive reaction for influenza. Such kits are widely used in Japan.…”

Influenza Vaccination: Healthcare Workers Attitude in Three Middle East Countries

“…Many studies prove the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in reducing illness absenteeism and improving health status among health care workers. 10…”

Survey on Use of and Attitudes Toward Influenza Vaccination Among Emergency Department Staff in a New York Metropolitan Hospital

“…Influenza vaccine also reduced the reported days of absence from work. 14 The net effect was a reduction in cost to the provider, the patient, and generally the entire healthcare delivery system. We performed the present study to determine the current vaccination rates for our ED staff.…”