Doing better this year:The influenza vaccination

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and, at times, can even lead to death. In the United States, annual epidemics of influenza typically occur late fall through early spring. It is common to refer to these yearly winter epidemics as seasonal or interpandemic influenza. Sporadic, unpredictable pandemics can occur. There were three influenza pandemics in the 20th century.

Influenza viruses infect between 5% and 20% of the U.S. population annually. Approximately 36,000 influenza-associated deaths occur annually in the United States. More than 90% of these deaths involve people 65 years and older. Higher mortality occurs in seasons when influenza type A (H3N2) viruses predominate.

On average, there are 200,000 influenza-related hospitalizations annually. The highest rates of complications and hospitalization are among young persons and those 65 and older. Greater numbers of hospitalizations occur during type A (H3N2) epidemics. The economic impact of influenza is substantial, averaging $87.1 billion annually.

Annual vaccination is the most effective method for preventing influenza virus infection and its complications. The vaccine can be administered to any person six months or older, who does not have contraindications to vaccination, to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others.

The effectiveness of the influenza vaccine depends, in part, on the match between the vaccine and influenza viruses that are circulating in the community. If these matches are close, vaccine effectiveness (VE) is high with values as great as 70% to 90% for inactivated vaccines. If the match is not close, VE is reduced.

A study in Wisconsin found an overall VE of 44% for the 2007-08 influenza vaccine. This included a 58% VE against the predominant influenza A (H3N2) strain and no effectiveness against influenza B viruses. No influenza A (H1N1) viruses were present in the population studied.

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