The Effectiveness of Vaccination against Influenza in Healthy, Working Adults

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 333; no. 14; pp. 889 - 893
• Main Authors: Nichol, Kristin L, Lind, April, Margolis, Karen L, Murdoch, Maureen, McFadden, Rodney, Hauge, Meri, Magnan, Sanne, Drake, Mari
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 05.10.1995
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cost Savings; Double-Blind Method; Employment - economics; Female; General populations; Health Care Costs; Health Status; Hospitals; Humans; Illnesses; Immunization; Influenza Vaccines - economics; Influenza Vaccines - therapeutic use; Influenza, Human - economics; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Male; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Office Visits - economics; Office Visits - statistics & numerical data; Pharyngitis - economics; Pharyngitis - epidemiology; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Respiratory Tract Infections - economics; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Sick Leave - economics; Sick Leave - statistics & numerical data; Treatment Outcome; Vaccines; United States; North America; America; Human; Infection; Prevention; Viral disease; Health economy; Influenza; Vaccination; Adult; Absenteeism; Cost benefit analysis; Occupational medicine; Public health
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199510053331401

Although most deaths from influenza occur among elderly people, all age groups are affected by this illness. Annual attack rates average 10 to 20 percent and are higher during severe epidemics. 1 Symptoms include the abrupt onset of fever, myalgia, sore throat, nonproductive cough, headache, and malaise. Influenza is sometimes associated with malaise persisting for several weeks and often results in restriction of activity. 2 Influenza accounts for millions of days lost from work each year. 3 The current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices target persons at increased risk for complications of influenza for annual immunization, although all people who . . .