Week 1: Assignment Part 3 (Selecting Sources of Literature)



Week 1: Assignment Part 3 (Selecting Sources of Literature)

Nichol, K. (1994) The efficacy and cost effectiveness of vaccination against influenza among elderly persons living in the community. The New England Journal of Medicine, 331(12)

This article reflects that Influenza type A and B viruses undergo changes over time due to an accumulation of point mutations in the viral proteins, especially hemagglutinin and to a lesser extent neuraminidase. Vaccination is the primary means of preventing influenza. Because at least one of the three virus strains in the influenza vaccine is changed during most years due to viral mutations, and because vaccine-induced antibody can wane over the course of a year, the vaccine must be taken every year before the influenza season.

Wicker, S. (2009) Influenza vaccination compliance among health care workers in a German university hospital. Infection, 37(3)

This peer reviewed article emphasize that some healthcare centers have achieved adequate levels of vaccination, overall rates of health care worker influenza vaccination remain dismally low; the latest nationally representative data show that only 36% of health care workers are vaccinated against influenza each year. It is clear that influenza vaccine works and that it is safe. In addition, high levels of influenza vaccination among nursing homes residents do not prevent outbreaks if the staff is inadequately vaccinated

Margolis, K. (1995) The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy, working adults. The New England Journal of Medicine, 333(14)

This peer reviewed article reveals that there is strong epidemiologic evidence that influenza vaccine is safe and effective in healthy adults, and that vaccination also protects patients. Ideally, educational campaigns would be able to maximize voluntary compliance with immunization. However, the evidence that knowledge about influenza is associated with vaccination status is mixed. How effective the vaccine is in preventing influenza also depends on how healthy the immune system of the recipient is, and on how closely the virus strains in the vaccine resemble those that circulate during the influenza season.

Machado, C. (2005) The benefit of influenza vaccination after bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplantation, 36(10)

This article reveals that influenza is responsible for nearly 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year, with the highest mortality rates in young children and the elderly. Because they are frequently hospitalized during influenza season and may acquire influenza during hospitalization, one effective method to protect them is to vaccinate health care workers against influenza. With this goal, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices worldwide has recommended for nearly 20 years that all people should be vaccinated against influenza each winter.

Laddy, D. (2008) Vaccination against pathogenic influenza with synthetic consensus DNA antigens. University of Pennsylvania). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses

This article emphasize that the flu vaccine effectiveness against influenza can vary from season to season. The effectiveness of the vaccine may also vary according to the person to whom the vaccine is administered. The seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against infection and disease caused by the three influenza virus, which researchers ...