Influenza vaccination in 18 developed countries, 1980–1992

Influenza continues to be an important cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Although influenza vaccine is widely recommended for older high-risk individuals, no studies have compared its use in different countries. We gathered information on influenza vaccine distribution in 18 developed co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vaccine 1995, Vol.13 (7), p.623-627
Main Authors: Fedson, David S., Hannoun, Claude, Leese, Jane, Sprenger, Marc J.W., Hampson, Alan W., Bro-Jørgensen, Klaus, Ahlbom, Ann-Marie, Nøkleby, Hanne, Valle, Martti, Olafsson, Olafur, Garcia, Fracisco Salmeron, Gugelman, Richard, de Andrade, Helena Rebelo, Snacken, René, Ambrosch, Franz, Donatelli, Isabella
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Developing Countries
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Influenza
influenza vaccination
Influenza Vaccines - immunology
influenza virus
Medical sciences
Time Factors
Vaccination
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases
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Summary:Influenza continues to be an important cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Although influenza vaccine is widely recommended for older high-risk individuals, no studies have compared its use in different countries. We gathered information on influenza vaccine distribution in 18 developed countries for the period 1980–1992. During the 1980s there was a ≥ 10-fold difference in annual per capita vaccine distribution among these countries, and in 1992 the difference was still more than 7-fold. Several countries demonstrated large increases in vaccine use over the study period, some showing substantial increases in specific years. Thirteen of the 18 countries recommend influenza vaccination for all elderly persons and 11 countries provide reimbursement for vaccination through national or social health insurance. These countries tend to have higher levels of vaccine use. Historical, economic and political factors also affect vaccination practices and policies, but their relationships to differences in vaccine use between countries are not known. A better understanding of why the use of influenza vaccine varies among countries will be important if its protective benefits are to be fully realized.
ISSN:0264-410X
1873-2518
DOI:10.1016/0264-410X(94)00041-K