Influenza and other respiratory viruses
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Influenza Other Respi Viruses · Mar 2013
Multicenter StudyRisk factors and effectiveness of preventive measures against influenza in the community.
The role of different risk exposures and preventive measures against influenza has not been well established. ⋯ The home environment appears to play an important role in the spread of influenza in adults, but not the use of public transport. Health care workers have a higher risk of contracting influenza. Vaccination was the most effective preventive measure.
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Influenza Other Respi Viruses · Mar 2013
Increased reactions to pediatric influenza vaccination following concomitant pneumococcal vaccination.
Influenza in children causes significant morbidity and hospitalizations and also some mortality particularly in children < 5 years of age. Influenza vaccination in children has been shown to be safe and effective, but in 2010 the pediatric influenza vaccination program was suspended in Western Australia after the rate of febrile convulsions observed (9/1000 doses) was 55 times the previously reported rate. In 2009, over 80% of all children in New Brunswick were vaccinated with an adjuvanted monovalent H1N1 vaccine shown to have very high effectiveness, raising the prospect of potential hyper-responsiveness because of residual protection. We conducted enhanced post-marketing surveillance to monitor local and general reactions. ⋯ Influenza vaccines in children are safe, and this study provides a baseline for rapid assessment studies at the start of a vaccine season. Parents should be aware of increased fevers with concurrent vaccine administration, and antipyretics should be considered.